diff variant_effect_predictor/Bio/LiveSeq/SeqI.pm @ 0:1f6dce3d34e0

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author mahtabm
date Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:01:53 -0400
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+# $Id: SeqI.pm,v 1.25 2002/10/22 07:38:34 lapp Exp $
+#
+# bioperl module for Bio::LiveSeq::SeqI
+#
+# Cared for by Joseph Insana <insana@ebi.ac.uk> <jinsana@gmx.net>
+#
+# Copyright Joseph Insana
+#
+# You may distribute this module under the same terms as perl itself
+#
+# POD documentation - main docs before the code
+
+=head1 NAME
+
+Bio::LiveSeq::SeqI - Abstract sequence interface class for LiveSeq
+
+=head1 SYNOPSIS
+
+  # documentation needed
+
+=head1 DESCRIPTION
+
+This class implements BioPerl PrimarySeqI interface for Live Seq objects.
+
+One of the main difference in LiveSequence compared to traditional
+"string" sequences is that coordinate systems are flexible. Typically
+gene nucleotide numbering starts from 1 at the first character of the
+initiator codon (A in ATG). This means that negative positions are
+possible and common!
+
+Secondly, the sequence manipulation methods do not return a new
+sequence object but change the current object. The current status can
+be written out to BioPerl sequence objects. 
+
+=head1 FEEDBACK
+
+=head2 Mailing Lists
+
+User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other
+Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to one
+of the Bioperl mailing lists.  Your participation is much appreciated.
+
+  bioperl-l@bioperl.org             - General discussion
+  http://bio.perl.org/MailList.html - About the mailing lists
+
+=head2 Reporting Bugs
+
+Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track
+the bugs and their resolution.  Bug reports can be submitted via email
+or the web:
+
+  bioperl-bugs@bio.perl.org
+  http://bugzilla.bioperl.org/
+
+=head1 AUTHOR - Joseph A.L. Insana
+
+Email:  Insana@ebi.ac.uk, jinsana@gmx.net
+
+Address: 
+
+     EMBL Outstation, European Bioinformatics Institute
+     Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton
+     Cambs. CB10 1SD, United Kingdom 
+
+=head1 APPENDIX
+
+The rest of the documentation details each of the object
+methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _
+
+Some note on the terminology/notation of method names:
+ label: a unique pointer to a single nucleotide
+ position: the position of a nucleotide according to a particular coordinate
+           system (e.g. counting downstream from a particular label taken as
+           number 1)
+ base: the one letter code for a nucleotide (i.e.: "a" "t" "c" "g")
+
+       a base is the "value" that an "element" of a "chain" can assume
+         (see documentation on the Chain datastructure if interested)
+
+=cut
+
+#'
+# Let the code begin...
+
+package Bio::LiveSeq::SeqI;
+$VERSION=3.3;
+# Version history:
+# Thu Mar 16 18:11:18 GMT 2000 v.1.0 Started implementation, interface/inheritance from ChainI.pm
+# Thu Mar 16 20:05:51 GMT 2000 v 1.2 implemented up to splice_out
+# Fri Mar 17 05:37:37 GMT 2000 v 1.3 implemented lot of new methods and written their documentation / in sync with ChainI 1.6 and Chain 2.4
+# Fri Mar 17 17:17:24 GMT 2000 v 1.7 in sync with ChainI 1.7
+# Fri Mar 17 20:12:27 GMT 2000 v 1.8 NAMING change: index->label everywhere     
+# Mon Mar 20 19:19:21 GMT 2000 v 2.0 renamed from DNA to SeqI and begun
+#                                    working on methods defined with Heikki
+# Tue Mar 21 01:37:52 GMT 2000 v 2.1 created strand(), seq()
+# Tue Mar 21 02:43:21 GMT 2000 v 2.11 seq() prints correctly also for exons
+# Wed Mar 22 19:41:45 GMT 2000 v 2.22 translate, alphabet, length, all_labels
+# Thu Mar 23 21:03:42 GMT 2000 v 2.3 follows() label() position()
+# Fri Mar 24 18:33:18 GMT 2000 v 2.33 rewritten position(), now works with diverse coordinate_starts
+# Sat Mar 25 06:11:55 GMT 2000 v 2.4 started subseq
+# Mon Mar 27 19:22:32 BST 2000 v 2.45 subseq should be ok but the thing about reverse strand has to be checked!!
+# Tue Mar 28 01:53:31 BST 2000 v 2.46 changed strand behaviour in subseq
+# Wed Mar 29 00:05:21 BST 2000 v 2.5 change() begun
+# Wed Mar 29 02:06:20 BST 2000 v 2.53 _delete _mutate _praeinsert coded
+# Wed Mar 29 02:29:01 BST 2000 v 2.531 _mutate changed to make it more general
+# Wed Mar 29 03:38:21 BST 2000 v 2.54 tested and corrected change
+# Wed Mar 29 16:23:39 BST 2000 v 2.55 change deals with complex now
+# Fri Mar 31 18:26:54 BST 2000 v 2.56 translate_string added
+# Sat Apr  1 19:02:28 BST 2000 v 2.57 labelchange() created
+# Fri Apr  7 03:31:35 BST 2000 v 2.6 labelsubseq() created
+# Sat Apr  8 13:01:09 BST 2000 v 2.61 obj_valid() created
+# Wed Apr 12 16:23:21 BST 2000 v 2.7 _deletecheck call added in _delete
+# Wed Apr 19 16:21:33 BST 2000 v 2.72 name() source() description() added
+# Thu Apr 20 14:42:57 BST 2000 v 2.8 added or rewritten much pod documentation
+# Thu Apr 27 16:18:55 BST 2000 v 2.82 translate now accounts for ttable info
+# Thu Jun 22 20:02:39 BST 2000 v 2.9 valid() from Transcript now moved here, as the general for all objects inheriting from SeqI
+# Thu Jun 22 20:17:32 BST 2000 v 2.91 _unsecure_labelsubseq() added
+# Sat Jun 24 00:10:31 BST 2000 v 2.92 unsecure is an option of labelsubseq() now
+# Thu Jun 29 16:38:45 BST 2000 v 3.0 labelchange() now calls itself again for the DNAobj if the label for the change is not valid for the object requested but valid for the DNAobj
+# Tue Jan 30 14:16:22 EST 2001 v 3.1 delete_Obj added, to flush circular references
+# Wed Mar 28 15:16:38 BST 2001 v 3.2 functions warn, verbose, throw, stack_trace, stack_trace_dump added
+# Wed Apr  4 13:34:29 BST 2001 v 3.3 moved from carp to warn
+
+use strict;
+use vars qw($VERSION @ISA);
+use Bio::LiveSeq::ChainI 1.9; # to inherit from it
+use Bio::Tools::CodonTable; # for the translate() function
+use Bio::PrimarySeqI;
+
+@ISA=qw(Bio::Root::Root Bio::LiveSeq::ChainI Bio::PrimarySeqI ); # inherit from ChainI
+
+=head2 seq
+
+ Title   : seq
+ Usage   : $string    = $obj->seq()
+ Function: Returns the complete sequence of an object as a string of letters.
+           Suggested cases are upper case for proteins and lower case for
+           DNA sequence (IUPAC standard),
+ Returns : a string
+
+
+=cut
+
+sub seq {
+  my $self = shift;
+  my ($start,$end) = ($self->start(),$self->end());
+  if ($self->strand() == 1) {
+    return $self->{'seq'}->down_chain2string($start,undef,$end);
+  } else { # reverse strand
+    my $str = $self->{'seq'}->up_chain2string($start,undef,$end);
+    $str =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/;
+    return $str;
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 all_labels
+
+ Title   : all_labels
+ Usage   : @labels = $obj->all_labels()
+ Function: all the labels of every nucleotide an object is composed of
+ Returns : an array of labels
+ Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub all_labels {
+  my $self = shift;
+  my ($start,$end) = ($self->start(),$self->end());
+  my $labels;
+  if ($self->strand() == 1) {
+    $labels=$self->{'seq'}->down_labels($start,$end);
+  } else {
+    $labels=$self->{'seq'}->up_labels($start,$end);
+  }
+  return (@{$labels});
+}
+
+=head2 labelsubseq
+
+  Title   : labelsubseq
+  Usage   : $dna->labelsubseq();
+          : $dna->labelsubseq($startlabel);
+          : $dna->labelsubseq($startlabel,$length);
+          : $dna->labelsubseq($startlabel,undef,$endlabel);
+  e.g.    : $dna->labelsubseq(4,undef,8);
+  Function: prints the sequence as string. The difference between labelsubseq
+            and normal subseq is that it uses /labels/ as arguments, instead
+            than positions. This allows for faster and more efficient lookup,
+            skipping the (usually) lengthy conversion of positions into labels.
+            This is expecially useful for manipulating with high power
+            LiveSeq objects, knowing the labels and exploiting their
+            usefulness.
+  Returns : a string
+  Errorcode -1
+  Args    : without arguments it returns the entire sequence
+            with a startlabel it returns the sequence downstream that label
+            if a length is specified, it returns only that number of bases
+            if an endlabel is specified, it overrides the length argument
+             and prints instead up to that label (included)
+  Defaults: $startlabel defaults to the beginning of the entire sequence
+            $endlabel defaults to the end of the entire sequence
+
+=cut
+
+# NOTE: unsecuremode is to be used /ONLY/ if sure of the start and end labels, expecially that they follow each other in the correct order!!!!
+
+sub labelsubseq {
+  my ($self,$start,$length,$end,$unsecuremode) = @_;
+  if (defined $unsecuremode && $unsecuremode eq "unsecuremoderequested") 
+  { # to skip security checks (faster)
+    unless ($start) {
+      $start=$self->start;
+    }
+    if ($end) {
+      if ($end == $start) {
+	$length=1;
+	undef $end;
+      } else {
+	undef $length;
+      }
+    } else {
+      unless ($length) {
+	$end=$self->end;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    if ($start) {
+      unless ($self->{'seq'}->valid($start)) {
+	$self->warn("Start label not valid"); return (-1);
+      }
+    }
+    if ($end) {
+      if ($end == $start) {
+	$length=1;
+	undef $end;
+      } else {
+	unless ($self->{'seq'}->valid($end)) {
+	  $self->warn("End label not valid"); return (-1);
+	}
+	unless ($self->follows($start,$end) == 1) {
+	  $self->warn("End label does not follow Start label!"); return (-1);
+	}
+	undef $length;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if ($self->strand() == 1) {
+    return $self->{'seq'}->down_chain2string($start,$length,$end);
+  } else { # reverse strand
+    my $str = $self->{'seq'}->up_chain2string($start,$length,$end);
+    $str =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/;
+    return $str;
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 subseq
+
+ Title   : subseq
+ Usage   : $substring = $obj->subseq(10,40);
+         : $substring = $obj->subseq(10,undef,4);
+ Function: returns the subseq from start to end, where the first base
+           is 1 and the number is inclusive, ie 1-2 are the first two
+           bases of the sequence
+
+           Start cannot be larger than end but can be equal.
+
+           Allows for negative numbers $obj->subseq(-10,-1). By
+           definition, there is no 0!
+                       -5  -1 1   5
+                gctagcgcccaac atggctcgctg
+
+           This allows to retrieve sequences upstream from given position.
+
+           The precedence is from left to right: if END is given LENGTH is
+           ignored.
+
+ Examples: $obj->subseq(-10,undef,10) returns 10 elements before position 1
+           $obj->subseq(4,8) returns elements from the 4th to the 8th, inclusive
+
+ Returns : a string
+ Errorcode: -1
+ Args    : start,  integer, defaults to start of the sequence
+           end,    integer, '' or undef, defaults to end of the sequence
+           length, integer, '' or undef
+           an optional strand (1 or -1) 4th argument 
+            if strand argument is not given, it will default to the object
+            argment. This argument is useful when a call is issued from a child
+            of a parent object containing the subseq method
+
+=cut
+
+#'
+# check the fact about reverse strand!
+# is it feasible? Is it correct? Should we do it? How about exons? Does it
+# work when you ask subseq of an exon?
+# eliminated now (Mon night)
+sub subseq {
+  ##my ($self,$pos1,$pos2,$length,$strand) = @_;
+  my ($self,$pos1,$pos2,$length,$strand) = @_;
+  ##unless (defined ($strand)) { # if optional [strand] argument not given
+  ##  $strand=$self->strand;
+  ##}
+  $strand=$self->strand;
+  my ($str,$startlabel,$endlabel);
+  if (defined ($length)) {
+    if ($length < 1) {
+      $self->warn("No sense asking for a subseq of length < 1");
+      return (-1);
+    }
+  }
+  unless (defined ($pos1)) {
+    #print "\n##### DEBUG pos1 not defined\n";
+    $startlabel=$self->start;
+  } else {
+    if ($pos1 == 0) {  # if position = 0 complain
+      $self->warn("Position cannot be 0!"); return (-1);
+    }
+    ##if ($strand == 1) { # CHECK THIS!
+      if ((defined ($pos2))&&($pos1>$pos2)) {
+	$self->warn("1st position($pos1) cannot be > 2nd position($pos2)!"); return (-1);
+      }
+    ##} else { # CHECK THIS!
+    ##  if ((defined ($pos2))&&($pos1<$pos2)) {
+##	$self->warn("1st position($pos1) cannot be < 2nd position($pos2) on reverse strand!)"; return (-1);
+    ##  }
+    ##}
+    $startlabel=$self->label($pos1);
+    if ($startlabel < 1) {
+      $self->warn("position $pos1 not valid as start of subseq!"); return (-1);
+    }
+  }
+  unless (defined ($pos2)) {
+    #print "\n##### pos2 not defined\n";
+    unless (defined ($length)) {
+      $endlabel=$self->end;
+    }
+  } else {
+    if ($pos2 == 0) {  # if position = 0 complain
+      $self->warn("Position cannot be 0!"); return (-1);
+    }
+    undef $length;
+    ##if ($strand == 1) { # CHECK THIS!
+      if ((defined ($pos1))&&($pos1>$pos2)) {
+	$self->warn("1st position($pos1) cannot be > 2nd position($pos2)!"); return (-1);
+      }
+    ##} else { # CHECK THIS!
+    ##  if ((defined ($pos1))&&($pos1<$pos2)) {
+##	$self->warn("1st position($pos1) cannot be < 2nd position($pos2) on reverse strand!"); return (-1);
+    ##  }
+    ##}
+    $endlabel=$self->label($pos2);
+    if ($endlabel < 1) {
+      $self->warn("position $pos2 not valid as end of subseq!"); return (-1);
+    }
+  }
+  #print "\n    ####DEBUG: start $startlabel end $endlabel length $length strand $strand\n";
+
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    $str = $self->{'seq'}->down_chain2string($startlabel,$length,$endlabel);
+  } else { # reverse strand
+    $str = $self->{'seq'}->up_chain2string($startlabel,$length,$endlabel);
+    $str =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/;
+  }
+  return $str;
+}
+
+=head2 length
+
+  Title   : length
+  Usage   : $seq->length();
+  Function: returns the number of nucleotides (or the number of aminoacids)
+            in the entire sequence
+  Returns : an integer
+  Errorcode -1
+  Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub length {
+  my $self=shift;
+  my ($start,$end,$strand)=($self->start(),$self->end(),$self->strand());
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    return $self->{'seq'}->down_subchain_length($start,$end);
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'seq'}->up_subchain_length($start,$end);
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 display_id
+
+ Title   : display_id
+ Usage   : $id_string = $obj->display_id();
+ Function: returns the display id, alias the common name of the object
+
+           The semantics of this is that it is the most likely string
+           to be used as an identifier of the sequence, and likely to
+           have "human" readability.  The id is equivalent to the ID
+           field of the GenBank/EMBL databanks and the id field of the
+           Swissprot/sptrembl database. In fasta format, the >(\S+) is
+           presumed to be the id, though some people overload the id
+           to embed other information.
+
+ See also: accession_number
+ Returns : a string
+ Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub display_id {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if(defined $value) {
+    $self->{'display_id'} = $value;
+  }
+  return $self->{'display_id'};
+}
+
+
+=head2 accession_number
+
+ Title   : accession_number
+ Usage   : $unique_biological_key = $obj->accession_number;
+ Function: Returns the unique biological id for a sequence, commonly
+           called the accession_number.
+           Notice that primary_id() provides the unique id for the
+           implemetation, allowing multiple objects to have the same accession
+           number in a particular implementation.
+
+           For objects with no accession_number this method returns "unknown".
+ Returns : a string
+ Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub accession_number {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $self->{'accession_number'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'accession_number'}) {
+    return "unknown";
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'accession_number'};
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 primary_id
+
+ Title   : primary_id
+ Usage   : $unique_implementation_key = $obj->primary_id;
+ Function: Returns the unique id for this object in this
+           implementation. This allows implementations to manage their own
+           object ids in a way the implementation can control. Clients can
+           expect one id to map to one object.
+
+           For sequences with no primary_id, this method returns
+           a stringified memory location.
+
+ Returns : A string
+ Args    : None
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub primary_id {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if(defined $value) {
+    $self->{'primary_id'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'primary_id'}) {
+    return "$self";
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'primary_id'};
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 change
+
+ Title   : change
+ Usage   : $substring = $obj->change('AA', 10);
+ Function: changes, modifies, mutates the LiveSequence
+ Examples:
+        $obj->change('',   10);      delete nucleotide #10     
+        $obj->change('',   10, 2);   delete two nucleotides starting from #10
+        $obj->change('G',  10);      change nuc #10 to 'G'
+        $obj->change('GA', 10, 4);   replace #10 and 3 following with 'GA'
+        $obj->change('GA', 10, 2));  is same as $obj->change('GA',  10);
+        $obj->change('GA', 10, 0 );  insert 'GA' before nucleotide at #10
+        $obj->change('GA', 10, 1);   GA inserted before #10, #10 deleted
+        $obj->change('GATC', 10, 2); GATC inserted before #10, #10&#11 deleted
+        $obj->change('GATC', 10, 6); GATC inserted before #10, #10-#15 deleted
+
+
+ Returns : a string of deleted bases (if any) or 1 (everything OK)
+ Errorcode: -1
+ Args    : seq,    string, or '' ('' = undef = 0 = deletion)
+           start,  integer
+           length, integer (optional)
+
+=cut
+
+sub change {
+  &positionchange;
+}
+
+=head2 positionchange
+
+ Title   : positionchange
+ Function: Exactly like change. I.e. change() defaults to positionchange()
+
+=cut
+
+sub positionchange {
+  my ($self,$newseq,$position,$length)=@_;
+  unless ($position) {
+    $self->warn("Position not given or position 0");
+    return (-1);
+  }
+  my $label=$self->label($position);
+  unless ($label > 0) { # label not found or error
+    $self->warn("No valid label found at that position!");
+    return (-1);
+  }
+  return ($self->labelchange($newseq,$label,$length));
+}
+
+=head2 labelchange
+
+ Title   : labelchange
+ Function: Exactly like change but uses a /label/ instead than a position
+           as second argument. This allows for multiple changes in a LiveSeq
+           without the burden of recomputing positions. I.e. for a multiple
+           change in two different points of the LiveSeq, the approach would
+           be the following: fetch the correct labels out of the two different
+           positions (method: label($position)) and then use the labelchange()
+           method to modify the sequence using those labels instead than
+           relying on the positions (that would have modified after the
+           first change).
+
+=cut
+
+sub labelchange {
+  my ($self,$newseq,$label,$length)=@_;
+  unless ($self->valid($label)) {
+    if ($self->{'seq'}->valid($label)) {
+       #$self->warn("Label \'$label\' not valid for executing a LiveSeq change for the object asked but it's ok for DNAlevel change, reverting to that");
+      shift @_;
+      return($self->{'seq'}->labelchange(@_));
+    } else {
+      $self->warn("Label \'$label\' not valid for executing a LiveSeq change");
+      return (-1);
+    }
+  }
+  unless ($newseq) { # it means this is a simple deletion
+    if (defined($length)) {
+      unless ($length >= 0) {
+	$self->warn("No sense having length < 0 in a deletion");
+	return (-1);
+      }
+    } else {
+      $self->warn("Length not defined for deletion!");
+      return (-1);
+    }
+    return $self->_delete($label,$length);
+  }
+  my $newseqlength=CORE::length($newseq);
+  if (defined($length)) {
+    unless ($length >= 0) {
+      $self->warn("No sense having length < 0 in a change()");
+      return (-1);
+    }
+  } else {
+    $length=$newseqlength; # defaults to pointmutation(s)
+  }
+  if ($length == 0) { # it means this is a simple insertion, length def&==0
+    my ($insertbegin,$insertend)=$self->_praeinsert($label,$newseq);
+    if ($insertbegin == -1) {
+      return (-1);
+    } else {
+      return (1);
+    }
+  }
+  if ($newseqlength == $length) { # it means this is simple pointmutation(s)
+    return $self->_mutate($label,$newseq,$length);
+  }
+  # if we arrived here then change is complex mixture
+  my $strand=$self->strand();
+  my $afterendlabel=$self->label($length+1,$label,$strand); # get the label at $length+1 positions after $label
+  unless ($afterendlabel > 0) { # label not found or error
+    $self->warn("No valid afterendlabel found for executing the complex mutation!");
+    return (-1);
+  }
+  my $deleted=$self->_delete($label,$length); # first delete length nucs
+  if ($deleted == -1) { # if errors
+    return (-1);
+  } else { # then insert the newsequence
+    my ($insertbegin,$insertend)=$self->_praeinsert($afterendlabel,$newseq);
+    if ($insertbegin == -1) {
+      return (-1);
+    } else {
+      return (1);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+# internal methods for change()
+
+# arguments: label for beginning of deletion, new sequence to insert
+# returns: labels of beginning and end of the inserted sequence
+# errorcode: -1
+sub _praeinsert {
+  my ($self,$label,$newseq)=@_;
+  my ($insertbegin,$insertend);
+  my $strand=$self->strand();
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    ($insertbegin,$insertend)=($self->{'seq'}->praeinsert_string($newseq,$label));
+  } else { # since it's reverse strand and we insert in forward direction....
+    $newseq=reverse($newseq);
+    $newseq =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/; # since it's reverse strand we get the complementary bases
+    ($insertend,$insertbegin)=($self->{'seq'}->postinsert_string($newseq,$label));
+  }
+  if (($insertbegin==0)||($insertend==0)) {
+    $self->warn("Some error occurred while inserting!");
+    return (-1);
+  } else {
+    return ($insertbegin,$insertend);
+  }
+}
+
+# arguments: label for beginning of deletion, length of deletion
+# returns: string of deleted bases
+# errorcode: -1
+sub _delete {
+  my ($self,$label,$length)=@_;
+  my $strand=$self->strand();
+  my $endlabel=$self->label($length,$label,$strand); # get the label at $length positions after $label
+  unless ($endlabel > 0) { # label not found or error
+    $self->warn("No valid endlabel found for executing the deletion!");
+    return (-1);
+  }
+  # this is important in Transcript to fix exon structure
+  $self->_deletecheck($label,$endlabel);
+  my $deletedseq;
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    $deletedseq=$self->{'seq'}->splice_chain($label,undef,$endlabel);
+  } else {
+    $deletedseq=$self->{'seq'}->splice_chain($endlabel,undef,$label);
+    $deletedseq=reverse($deletedseq); # because we are on reverse strand and we cut anyway
+                         # in forward direction
+    $deletedseq =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/; # since it's reverse strand we get the complementary bases
+  }
+  return ($deletedseq);
+}
+
+# empty function, overridden in Transcript, not useful here
+sub _deletecheck {
+}
+
+# arguments: label for beginning of mutation, newsequence, number of mutations
+# returns: 1 all OK
+# errorcode: -1
+sub _mutate {
+  my ($self,$label,$newseq,$length)=@_; # length is equal to length(newseq)
+  my ($i,$base,$nextlabel);
+  my @labels; # array of labels
+  my $strand=$self->strand();
+  if ($length == 1) { # special cases first
+    @labels=($label);
+  } else {
+    my $endlabel=$self->label($length,$label,$strand); # get the label at $length positions after $label
+    unless ($endlabel > 0) { # label not found or error
+      $self->warn("No valid endlabel found for executing the mutation!");
+      return (-1);
+    }
+    if ($length == 2) { # another special case
+      @labels=($label,$endlabel);
+    } else { # more than 3 bases changed
+      # this wouldn't work for Transcript
+      #my $labelsarrayref;
+      #if ($strand == 1) {
+	#$labelsarrayref=$self->{'seq'}->down_labels($label,$endlabel);
+      #} else {
+	#$labelsarrayref=$self->{'seq'}->up_labels($label,$endlabel);
+      #}
+      #@labels=@{$labelsarrayref};
+      #if ($length != scalar(@labels)) { # not enough labels returned
+	#$self->warn("Not enough valid labels found for executing the mutation!");
+	#return (-1);
+      #}
+
+      # this should be more general
+      @labels=($label); # put the first one
+      while ($label != $endlabel) {
+	$nextlabel=$self->label(2,$label,$strand); # retrieve the next label
+	push (@labels,$nextlabel);
+	$label=$nextlabel; # move on reference
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if ($strand == -1) { # only for reverse strand
+    $newseq =~ tr/acgtrymkswhbvdnxACGTRYMKSWHBVDNX/tgcayrkmswdvbhnxTGCAYRKMSWDVBHNX/; # since it's reverse strand we get the complementary bases
+  }
+  my $errorcheck; # if not equal to $length after summing for all changes, error did occurr
+  $i = 0;
+  foreach $base (split(//,$newseq)) {
+    $errorcheck += $self->{'seq'}->set_value_at_label($base,$labels[$i]);
+    $i++;
+  }
+  if ($errorcheck != $length) {
+    $self->warn("Some error occurred while mutating!");
+    return (-1);
+  } else {
+    return (1);
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 valid
+
+  Title   : valid
+  Usage   : $boolean = $obj->valid($label)
+  Function: tests if a label exists inside the object
+  Returns : boolean
+  Args    : label
+
+=cut
+
+# argument: label
+# returns: 1 YES 0 NO
+sub valid {
+  my ($self,$label)=@_;
+  my $checkme;
+  my @labels=$self->all_labels;
+  foreach $checkme (@labels) {
+    if ($label == $checkme) {
+      return (1); # found
+    }
+  }
+  return (0); # not found
+}
+
+
+=head2 start
+
+  Title   : start
+  Usage   : $startlabel=$obj->start()
+  Function: returns the label of the first nucleotide of the object (exon, CDS)
+  Returns : label
+  Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub start {
+  my ($self) = @_;
+  return $self->{'start'}; # common for all classes BUT DNA (which redefines it) and Transcript (that takes the information from the Exons)
+}
+
+=head2 end
+
+  Title   : end
+  Usage   : $endlabel=$obj->end()
+  Function: returns the label of the last nucleotide of the object (exon, CDS)
+  Returns : label
+  Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub end {
+  my ($self) = @_;
+  return $self->{'end'};
+}
+
+=head2 strand
+
+  Title   : strand
+  Usage   : $strand=$obj->strand()
+            $obj->strand($strand)
+  Function: gets or sets strand information, being 1 or -1 (forward or reverse)
+  Returns : -1 or 1
+  Args    : none OR -1 or 1
+
+=cut
+
+sub strand {
+  my ($self,$strand) = @_;
+  if ($strand) {
+    if (($strand != 1)&&($strand != -1)) {
+      $self->warn("strand information not changed because strand identifier not valid");
+    } else {
+      $self->{'strand'} = $strand;
+    }
+  }
+  return $self->{'strand'};
+}
+
+=head2 alphabet
+
+ Title   : alphabet
+ Usage   : if( $obj->alphabet eq 'dna' ) { /Do Something/ }
+ Function: Returns the type of sequence being one of
+           'dna', 'rna' or 'protein'. This is case sensitive.
+
+ Returns : a string either 'dna','rna','protein'.
+ Args    : none
+ Note    : "circular dna" is set as dna
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub alphabet {
+  my %valid_type = map {$_, 1} qw( dna rna protein );
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $value =~ s/circular dna/dna/;
+    unless ( $valid_type{$value} ) {
+      $self->warn("Molecular type '$value' is not a valid type");
+    }
+    $self->{'alphabet'} = $value;
+  }
+  return $self->{'alphabet'};
+}
+
+=head2 coordinate_start
+
+  Title   : coordinate_start
+  Usage   : $coordstartlabel=$obj->coordinate_start()
+          : $coordstartlabel=$obj->coordinate_start($label)
+  Function: returns and optionally sets the first label of the coordinate
+            system used
+            For some objects only labels inside the object or in frame (for
+            Translation objects) will be allowed to get set as coordinate start
+
+  Returns : label. It returns 0 if label not found.
+  Errorcode -1 
+  Args    : an optional reference $label that is position 1
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub coordinate_start {
+  my ($self,$label) = @_;
+  if ($label) {
+    if ($self->valid($label)) {
+      $self->{'coordinate_start'} = $label;
+    } else {
+      $self->warn("The label you are trying to set as coordinate_start is not valid for this object");
+    }
+  }
+  my $coord_start = $self->{'coordinate_start'};
+  if ($coord_start) { 
+    return $coord_start;
+  } else {
+    return $self->start();
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 label
+
+  Title   : label
+  Usage   : $seq->label($position)
+          : $seq->label($position,$firstlabel)
+  Examples: $nextlabel=$seq->label(2,$label) -> retrieves the following label
+          : $prevlabel=$seq->label(-1,$label) -> retrieves the preceding label
+
+  Function: returns the label of the nucleotide at $position from current
+            coordinate start
+  Returns : a label. It returns 0 if label not found.
+  Errorcode -1 
+  Args    : a position, 
+            an optional reference $firstlabel that is to be used as position 1
+            an optional strand (1 or -1) argument 
+             if strand argument is not given, it will default to the object
+             argument. This argument is useful when a call is issued from a child
+             of a parent object containing the subseq method
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub label {
+  my ($self,$position,$firstlabel,$strand)=@_;
+  my $label;
+  unless (defined ($firstlabel)) {
+    $firstlabel=$self->coordinate_start;
+  }
+  unless ($position) {  # if position = 0 complain ?
+    $self->warn("Position not given or position 0");
+    return (-1);
+  }
+  unless (defined ($strand)) { # if optional [strand] argument not given
+    $strand=$self->strand;
+  }
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    if ($position > 0) {
+      $label=$self->{'seq'}->down_get_label_at_pos($position,$firstlabel)
+    } else { # if < 0
+      $label=$self->{'seq'}->up_get_label_at_pos(1 - $position,$firstlabel)
+    }
+  } else {
+    if ($position > 0) {
+      $label=$self->{'seq'}->up_get_label_at_pos($position,$firstlabel)
+    } else { # if < 0
+      $label=$self->{'seq'}->down_get_label_at_pos(1 - $position,$firstlabel)
+    }
+  }
+  return $label;
+}
+
+
+=head2 position
+
+  Title   : position
+  Usage   : $seq->position($label)
+          : $seq->position($label,$firstlabel)
+  Function: returns the position of nucleotide at $label
+  Returns : the position of the label from current coordinate start
+  Errorcode 0
+  Args    : a label pointing to a certain nucleotide (e.g. start of exon)
+            an optional "firstlabel" as reference to count from
+            an optional strand (1 or -1) argument 
+             if strand argument is not given, it will default to the object
+             argument. This argument is useful when a call is issued from a child
+             of a parent object containing the subseq method
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub position {
+  my ($self,$label,$firstlabel,$strand)=@_;
+  unless (defined ($strand)) { # if optional [strand] argument not given
+    $strand=$self->strand;
+  }
+  unless (defined ($firstlabel)) {
+    $firstlabel=$self->coordinate_start;
+  }
+  unless ($self->valid($label)) {
+    $self->warn("label not valid");
+    return (0);
+  }
+  if ($firstlabel == $label) {
+    return (1);
+  }
+  my ($coordpos,$position0,$position);
+  $position0=$self->{'seq'}->down_get_pos_of_label($label);
+  $coordpos=$self->{'seq'}->down_get_pos_of_label($firstlabel);
+  $position=$position0-$coordpos+1;
+  if ($position <= 0) {
+    $position--;
+  }
+  if ($strand == -1) {
+    #print "\n----------DEBUGSEQPOS label $label firstlabel $firstlabel strand $strand: position=",1-$position;
+    return (1-$position);
+  } else {
+    #print "\n----------DEBUGSEQPOS label $label firstlabel $firstlabel strand $strand: position=",$position;
+    return ($position);
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 follows
+
+  Title   : follows
+  Usage   : $seq->follows($firstlabel,$secondlabel)
+          : $seq->follows($firstlabel,$secondlabel,$strand)
+  Function: checks if SECONDlabel follows FIRSTlabel, undependent of the strand
+            i.e. it checks downstream for forward strand and
+            upstream for reverse strand
+  Returns : 1 or 0
+  Errorcode -1
+  Args    : two labels
+            an optional strand (1 or -1) argument 
+             if strand argument is not given, it will default to the object
+             argument. This argument is useful when a call is issued from a child
+             of a parent object containing the subseq method
+
+=cut
+
+#'
+# wraparound to is_downstream and is_upstream that chooses the correct one
+# depending on the strand
+sub follows {
+  my ($self,$firstlabel,$secondlabel,$strand)=@_;
+  unless (defined ($strand)) { # if optional [strand] argument not given
+    $strand=$self->strand;
+  }
+  if ($strand == 1) {
+    return ($self->{'seq'}->is_downstream($firstlabel,$secondlabel));
+  } else {
+    return ($self->{'seq'}->is_upstream($firstlabel,$secondlabel));
+  }
+}
+#
+#=head2 translate
+#
+# Title   : translate
+# Usage   : $protein_seq = $obj->translate
+# Function: Provides the translation of the DNA sequence
+#	    using full IUPAC ambiguities in DNA/RNA and amino acid codes.
+#
+#	    The resulting translation is identical to EMBL/TREMBL database 
+#	    translations.
+#
+# Returns : a string
+# Args    : character for terminator (optional) defaults to '*'
+#	    character for unknown amino acid (optional) defaults to 'X'
+#	    frame (optional) valid values 0, 1, 3, defaults to 0
+#	    codon table id (optional) defaults to 1
+#
+#=cut
+#
+#sub translate {
+#  my ($self) = shift;
+#  return ($self->translate_string($self->seq,@_));
+#}
+#
+#=head2 translate_string
+#
+# Title   : translate_string
+# Usage   : $protein_seq = $obj->translate_string("attcgtgttgatcgatta");
+# Function: Like translate, but can be used to translate subsequences after
+#	    having retrieved them as string.
+# Args    : 1st argument is a string. Optional following arguments: like in
+#	    the translate method
+#
+#=cut
+#
+#
+#sub translate_string {
+#  my($self) = shift;
+#  my($seq) = shift;
+#  my($stop, $unknown, $frame, $tableid) = @_;
+#  my($i, $len, $output) = (0,0,'');
+#  my($codon)   = "";
+#  my $aa;
+#
+#
+#  ## User can pass in symbol for stop and unknown codons
+#  unless(defined($stop) and $stop ne '')    { $stop = "*"; }
+#  unless(defined($unknown) and $unknown ne '') { $unknown = "X"; }
+#  unless(defined($frame) and $frame ne '') { $frame = 0; }
+#
+#  ## the codon table ID 
+#  if ($self->translation_table) {
+#    $tableid = $self->translation_table;
+#  }
+#  unless(defined($tableid) and $tableid ne '')    { $tableid = 1; }
+#
+#  ##Error if monomer is "Amino"
+#  $self->warn("Can't translate an amino acid sequence.") 
+#      if (defined $self->alphabet && $self->alphabet eq 'protein');
+#
+#  ##Error if frame is not 0, 1 or 2
+#  $self->warn("Valid values for frame are 0, 1, 2, not [$frame].")
+#      unless ($frame == 0 or $frame == 1 or $frame == 2);
+#
+#  #thows a warning if ID is invalid 
+#  my $codonTable = Bio::Tools::CodonTable->new( -id => $tableid);
+#
+#  # deal with frame offset.
+#  if( $frame ) {
+#      $seq = substr ($seq,$frame);
+#  }
+#
+#  for $codon ( grep { CORE::length == 3 } split(/(.{3})/, $seq) ) {
+#      my $aa = $codonTable->translate($codon);
+#      if ($aa eq '*') {
+#	    $output .= $stop;
+#      }
+#      elsif ($aa eq 'X') {
+#	    $output .= $unknown;
+#      }
+#      else { 
+#	   $output .= $aa ;
+#      }   
+#  }
+#  #if( substr($output,-1,1) eq $stop ) {
+#  #    chop $output;
+#  #}
+#
+#  return ($output);
+#}
+
+=head2 gene
+
+ Title   : gene
+ Usage   : my $gene=$obj->gene;
+ Function: Gets or sets the reference to the LiveSeq::Gene object.
+           Objects that are features of a LiveSeq Gene will have this
+           attribute set automatically.
+
+ Returns : reference to an object of class Gene
+ Note    : if Gene object is not set, this method will return 0;
+ Args    : none or reference to object of class Bio::LiveSeq::Gene
+
+=cut
+
+sub gene {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $self->{'gene'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'gene'}) {
+    return (0);
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'gene'};
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 obj_valid
+
+ Title   : obj_valid
+ Usage   : if ($obj->obj_valid) {do something;}
+ Function: Checks if start and end labels are still valid for the ojbect,
+           i.e. tests if the LiveSeq object is still valid
+ Returns : boolean
+ Args    : none
+
+=cut
+
+sub obj_valid {
+  my $self=shift;
+  unless (($self->{'seq'}->valid($self->start()))&&($self->{'seq'}->valid($self->end()))) {
+    return (0);
+  }
+  return (1);
+}
+
+=head2 name
+
+ Title   : name
+ Usage   : $name = $obj->name;
+         : $name = $obj->name("ABCD");
+ Function: Returns or sets the name of the object.
+           If there is no name, it will return "unknown";
+ Returns : A string
+ Args    : None
+
+=cut
+
+sub name {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $self->{'name'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'name'}) {
+    return "unknown";
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'name'};
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 desc
+
+ Title   : desc
+ Usage   : $desc = $obj->desc;
+         : $desc = $obj->desc("ABCD");
+ Function: Returns or sets the description of the object.
+           If there is no description, it will return "unknown";
+ Returns : A string
+ Args    : None
+
+=cut
+
+sub desc {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $self->{'desc'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'desc'}) {
+    return "unknown";
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'desc'};
+  }
+}
+
+=head2 source
+
+ Title   : source
+ Usage   : $name = $obj->source;
+         : $name = $obj->source("Homo sapiens");
+ Function: Returns or sets the organism that is source of the object.
+           If there is no source, it will return "unknown";
+ Returns : A string
+ Args    : None
+
+=cut
+
+sub source {
+  my ($self,$value) = @_;
+  if (defined $value) {
+    $self->{'source'} = $value;
+  }
+  unless (exists $self->{'source'}) {
+    return "unknown";
+  } else {
+    return $self->{'source'};
+  }
+}
+
+sub delete_Obj {
+  my $self = shift;
+  my @values= values %{$self};
+  my @keys= keys %{$self};
+
+  foreach my $key ( @keys ) {
+    delete $self->{$key};
+  }
+  foreach my $value ( @values ) {
+    if (index(ref($value),"LiveSeq") != -1) { # object case
+      eval {
+	# delete $self->{$value};
+	$value->delete_Obj;
+      };
+    } elsif (index(ref($value),"ARRAY") != -1) { # array case
+      my @array=@{$value};
+      my $element;
+      foreach $element (@array) {
+	eval {
+	  $element->delete_Obj;
+	};
+      }
+    } elsif (index(ref($value),"HASH") != -1) { # object case
+      my %hash=%{$value};
+      my $element;
+      foreach $element (%hash) {
+	eval {
+	  $element->delete_Obj;
+	};
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return(1);
+}
+
+1;