In an analysis of a set of discrete multidimensional data which can be represented in an array with a topology, where the array that can be mapped to an image space of discrete elements, such as digitized image data, seismic data and audio data, genotype/phenotype classifications are imposed on the topology, and then molecular biological-like processes (annealing, fragmentation, chromatographic separation, fingerprinting, footprinting and filtering) are imposed upon that topology to perceive classifiable regions such as edges. More specifically, an image feature probe constructed of strings of contiguous image fragments of the class of N-grams called linear N-grams, anneals genotypes of topological features by complementary biological-like techniques in the same manner that complex biological systems are analyzed by genetic mapping, sequencing and cloning techniques. For example, molecular biological probes anneal with molecular biological genotypes and then are used to classify those genotypes. More specifically, an image feature probe constructed of strings of contiguous pixels, of the class of N-grams called linear N-grams, mates genotypes of topological features by complementary biological-like techniques in the same manner that molecular biological probes mate with molecular biological genotypes. The topological genotypes are by definition orthogonal elements to edges. Techniques are disclosed for defining the feature probes.