Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond

Figure 19.4.  Parameters of signal peaks in a frequency spectrum. Two peaks within

a frequency spectrum are identified by the frequency positions of their intensity extrema,

which here are labelled as their heights. The integrals represent the area under the peak to

the zero intensity value, although other integration methods are possible, e.g. if an

idealised peak shape is fitted. The linewidths of the peaks are illustrated at half-height

values (a common heuristic), and are indicative of the decay of the signal. The data shown

is the real part of the Fourier transform also illustrated in

Figure 19.3

.