# Hamming Calculate the Hamming difference between two DNA strands. A mutation is simply a mistake that occurs during the creation or copying of a nucleic acid, in particular DNA. Because nucleic acids are vital to cellular functions, mutations tend to cause a ripple effect throughout the cell. Although mutations are technically mistakes, a very rare mutation may equip the cell with a beneficial attribute. In fact, the macro effects of evolution are attributable by the accumulated result of beneficial microscopic mutations over many generations. The simplest and most common type of nucleic acid mutation is a point mutation, which replaces one base with another at a single nucleotide. By counting the number of differences between two homologous DNA strands taken from different genomes with a common ancestor, we get a measure of the minimum number of point mutations that could have occurred on the evolutionary path between the two strands. This is called the 'Hamming distance'. It is found by comparing two DNA strands and counting how many of the nucleotides are different from their equivalent in the other string. GAGCCTACTAACGGGAT CATCGTAATGACGGCCT ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ The Hamming distance between these two DNA strands is 7. # Implementation notes The Hamming distance is only defined for sequences of equal length. This means that based on the definition, each language could deal with getting sequences of equal length differently. ## Testing In order to run the tests for this track, you will need to install DUnitX. Please see the [installation](http://www.exercism.io/languages/delphi/installing) instructions for more information. ### Loading Exercises into Delphi If Delphi is properly installed, and `*.dpr` file types have been associated with Delphi, then double clicking the supplied `*.dpr` file will start Delphi and load the exercise/project. `control + F9` is the keyboard shortcut to compile the project or pressing `F9` will compile and run the project. Alternatively you may opt to start Delphi and load your project via. the `File` drop down menu. ### When Questions Come Up We monitor the [Pascal-Delphi](https://gitter.im/exercism/Pascal-Delphi) support room on [gitter.im](https://gitter.im) to help you with any questions that might arise. ### Submitting Exercises Note that, when trying to submit an exercise, make sure the exercise file you're submitting is in the `exercism/delphi/` directory. For example, if you're submitting `ubob.pas` for the Bob exercise, the submit command would be something like `exercism submit /delphi/bob/ubob.pas`. ## Source The Calculating Point Mutations problem at Rosalind [http://rosalind.info/problems/hamm/](http://rosalind.info/problems/hamm/) ## Submitting Incomplete Solutions It's possible to submit an incomplete solution so you can see how others have completed the exercise.