PythonAsia 2026

This 30-minute talk is for intermediate Python users curious about scientific computing and bioinformatics beginners. It demystifies the fundamental algorithms for sequence alignment (Needleman-Wunsch and Smith-Waterman) by connecting them to core CS (dynamic programming) and familiar concepts (like diff tools).

The target audience of this talk is categorized into two (2): primary and secondary audiences.

a. Primary Audience: Intermediate Python users curious about applying coding to science, and bioinformatics beginners

b. Secondary Audience: Data scientists exploring new domains, and educators seeking practical, high-impact examples of complex algorithms.

In this talk, I will cover the following topics:

1. Introduction: The "Alignment" Problem (5 min)
   ->This section introduces the core concepts of sequence alignment (global vs. local) using a familiar analogy: file comparison tools.

2. The Logic: From Grid to Python Snippet (10 min)
   -> A practical walkthrough of the dynamic programming logic behind sequence alignment, translating the algorithm's "grid" into an intuitive Python snippet.

3. Python in the Wild: Biopython & Beyond (5 min)
   -> This segment bridges the gap from theory to practice, demonstrating how to use the foundational Biopython library to perform real-world alignments.

4. Impact, Takeaways & Q&A Handoff (5 min)
   -> This final part explores the broad impact of alignment in fields like genomics and NLP, summarizes key takeaways, and opens the floor for Q&A.