We consider a novel 2-D graphical representation of proteins in which individual nucleic acids are represented as “spots” within a square frame distributed according to specific construction rules. The resulting “images” of proteins can not only serve to facilitate visual comparison of similarities and dissimilarities between lengthy protein sequences, but also offer a way for mathematical characterization of protein sequences, analogous to similar considerations for lengthy DNA sequences. Basically the approach is based on the concept of virtual genetic code, which is a hypothetical string of RNA nucleic acid bases, A, C, U and G, which generates reported protein sequences, without the knowledge of the actual genetic code that produces the protein.

Most 2D graphical representations of primary DNA sequences, while offering visual geometrical patterns for depicting sequences, do require considerable space if enough details of such representations are to be visible. In this contribution, we consider a highly compact graphical representation of DNA, which allows visual inspection and numerical characterization of DNA sequences having a large number of nucleic acid bases. The approach is illustrated on the DNA sequences of the first exon of human β-globin. The same graphical approach not only allows one to depict differences in composition within a single DNA, but makes possible graphical representation of protein sequences, which have hitherto evaded similar 2D visual representations.