Shannon Entropy Calculator

Calculate Shannon entropy to measure sequence complexity and information content in biological sequences

What is Shannon Entropy?

Shannon entropy is a measure of information content and complexity in sequences. Higher entropy indicates more randomness and complexity, while lower entropy suggests more order and predictability. It's calculated as H = -Σ(p_i * log2(p_i)) where p_i is the probability of each character.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Paste your DNA, RNA, or protein sequence
  2. Entropy is calculated automatically
  3. View entropy value and distribution
  4. Copy or download the analysis

Entropy Interpretation

  • 0 bits: No diversity (single character)
  • 1 bit: Two equally likely characters
  • 2 bits: Four equally likely characters (max for DNA)
  • Higher values: Greater complexity

Applications

  • Sequence complexity analysis
  • Low-complexity region detection
  • Sequence compression estimation
  • Motif discovery
  • Evolutionary conservation studies

Maximum Entropy Values

  • DNA/RNA: 2.0 bits (4 bases)
  • Proteins: 4.32 bits (20 amino acids)
  • Binary: 1.0 bit (2 states)
  • General: log2(n) for n unique characters

FAQ

Q: What does low entropy mean?
A: Low entropy indicates repetitive or biased sequences with limited diversity.

Q: How is normalized entropy calculated?
A: It's the ratio of actual entropy to maximum possible entropy (H/H_max).