a system searches a data vector as a genome for a template vector such as a dna fragment . the system exclusive ors the template vector with a like size segment of the data vector , element by element , and sums the results of the exclusive or operations , whereby a zero sum indicates a match and a nonzero sum indicates a lack of match . then , the system shifts the segment one element and repeats the exclusive oring and summing steps for the shifted segment . each of the elements is represented by a respective digital value , and the values are assigned such that the result of the exclusive oring for each combination of elements yields a value representing the degree of mismatch between the elements in the combination .