Sequence alignment is still a core tool for bioinformatics. Dynamic Programming is core to much of sequence alignment. While it's not essential that you understand all the different algorithms that are used in bioinformatics, it is very useful that you understand at least one.
This exercise is a little unusual, in that it's more or less entirely paper-based. It comes in four parts which we will release once you have managed to complete the previous part. You should be able to complete these exercises in the two practicals.