diff --git a/test/bench/fasta.c b/test/bench/fasta.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9cd7f25c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bench/fasta.c
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+/*
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of "The Computer Language Benchmarks Game" nor the
+    name of "The Computer Language Shootout Benchmarks" nor the names of
+    its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+    from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*/
+
+/*
+ * http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u32q/benchmark.php?test=fasta&lang=gcc&id=4
+*/
+/* The Computer Language Benchmarks Game
+ * http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/
+ * Contributed by Joern Inge Vestgaarden
+ * Modified by Jorge Peixoto de Morais Neto
+ */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <err.h>
+
+#define WIDTH 60
+#define MIN(a,b) ((a) <= (b) ? (a) : (b))
+#define NELEMENTS(x) (sizeof (x) / sizeof ((x)[0]))
+
+typedef struct {
+    float p;
+    char c;
+} aminoacid_t;
+
+static inline float myrandom (float max) {
+    unsigned long const IM = 139968;
+    unsigned long const IA = 3877;
+    unsigned long const IC = 29573;
+    static unsigned long last = 42;
+    last = (last * IA + IC) % IM;
+    /*Integer to float conversions are faster if the integer is signed*/
+    return max * (long) last / IM;
+}
+
+static inline void accumulate_probabilities (aminoacid_t *genelist, size_t len) {
+    float cp = 0.0;
+    size_t i;
+    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+        cp += genelist[i].p;
+        genelist[i].p = cp;
+    }
+}
+
+/* This function prints the characters of the string s. When it */
+/* reaches the end of the string, it goes back to the beginning */
+/* It stops when the total number of characters printed is count. */
+/* Between each WIDTH consecutive characters it prints a newline */
+/* This function assumes that WIDTH <= strlen (s) + 1 */
+static void repeat_fasta (char const *s, size_t count) {
+    size_t pos = 0;
+    size_t len = strlen (s);
+    char *s2 = malloc (len + WIDTH);
+    memcpy (s2, s, len);
+    memcpy (s2 + len, s, WIDTH);
+    do {
+     	size_t line = MIN(WIDTH, count);
+     	fwrite_unlocked (s2 + pos,1,line,stdout);
+     	putchar_unlocked ('\n');
+     	pos += line;
+     	if (pos >= len) pos -= len;
+     	count -= line;
+    } while (count);
+    free (s2);
+}
+
+/* This function takes a pointer to the first element of an array */
+/* Each element of the array is a struct with a character and */
+/* a float number p between 0 and 1. */
+/* The function generates a random float number r and */
+/* finds the first array element such that p >= r. */
+/* This is a weighted random selection. */
+/* The function then prints the character of the array element. */
+/* This is done count times. */
+/* Between each WIDTH consecutive characters, the function prints a newline */
+static void random_fasta (aminoacid_t const *genelist, size_t count) {
+    do {
+	size_t line = MIN(WIDTH, count);
+	size_t pos = 0;
+	char buf[WIDTH + 1];
+	do {
+	    float r = myrandom (1.0);
+	    size_t i = 0;
+	    while (genelist[i].p < r)
+		++i; /* Linear search */
+	    buf[pos++] = genelist[i].c;
+	} while (pos < line);
+	buf[line] = '\n';
+	fwrite_unlocked (buf, 1, line + 1, stdout);
+	count -= line;
+    } while (count);
+}
+
+int main (int argc, char **argv) {
+    size_t n;
+    if (argc > 1) {
+	char const *arg = argv[1];
+ 	char *tail;
+ 	n = strtoul (arg, &tail, 0);
+ 	if (tail == arg)
+	    errx (1, "Could not convert \"%s\" to an unsigned long integer", arg);
+    } else n = 1000;
+
+    static aminoacid_t iub[] = {
+	{ 0.27, 'a' },
+	{ 0.12, 'c' },
+	{ 0.12, 'g' },
+	{ 0.27, 't' },
+	{ 0.02, 'B' },
+	{ 0.02, 'D' },
+	{ 0.02, 'H' },
+	{ 0.02, 'K' },
+	{ 0.02, 'M' },
+	{ 0.02, 'N' },
+	{ 0.02, 'R' },
+	{ 0.02, 'S' },
+	{ 0.02, 'V' },
+	{ 0.02, 'W' },
+	{ 0.02, 'Y' }};
+
+    static aminoacid_t homosapiens[] = {
+	{ 0.3029549426680, 'a' },
+	{ 0.1979883004921, 'c' },
+	{ 0.1975473066391, 'g' },
+	{ 0.3015094502008, 't' }};
+
+    accumulate_probabilities (iub, NELEMENTS(iub));
+    accumulate_probabilities (homosapiens, NELEMENTS(homosapiens));
+
+    static char const *const alu ="\
+GGCCGGGCGCGGTGGCTCACGCCTGTAATCCCAGCACTTTGG\
+GAGGCCGAGGCGGGCGGATCACCTGAGGTCAGGAGTTCGAGA\
+CCAGCCTGGCCAACATGGTGAAACCCCGTCTCTACTAAAAAT\
+ACAAAAATTAGCCGGGCGTGGTGGCGCGCGCCTGTAATCCCA\
+GCTACTCGGGAGGCTGAGGCAGGAGAATCGCTTGAACCCGGG\
+AGGCGGAGGTTGCAGTGAGCCGAGATCGCGCCACTGCACTCC\
+AGCCTGGGCGACAGAGCGAGACTCCGTCTCAAAAA";
+
+    fputs_unlocked (">ONE Homo sapiens alu\n", stdout);
+    repeat_fasta (alu, 2 * n);
+    fputs_unlocked (">TWO IUB ambiguity codes\n", stdout);
+    random_fasta (iub, 3 * n);
+    fputs_unlocked (">THREE Homo sapiens frequency\n", stdout);
+    random_fasta (homosapiens, 5 * n);
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/test/bench/fasta.go b/test/bench/fasta.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca3d56a355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bench/fasta.go
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+/*
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    * Neither the name of "The Computer Language Benchmarks Game" nor the
+    name of "The Computer Language Shootout Benchmarks" nor the names of
+    its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+    from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*/
+
+/* The Computer Language Benchmarks Game
+ * http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/
+ *
+ * contributed by The Go Authors.
+ * Based on C program by Joern Inge Vestgaarden
+ * and Jorge Peixoto de Morais Neto.
+ */
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bufio";
+	"bytes";
+	"flag";
+	"os";
+	"strings";
+)
+
+var out *bufio.Writer
+
+var n = flag.Int("n", 1000, "length of result")
+
+const WIDTH = 60
+
+func min(a, b int) int {
+	if a < b {
+		return a
+	}
+	return b
+}
+
+type AminoAcid struct {
+	p	float;
+	c	byte;
+}
+
+var	lastrandom uint32 = 42
+
+func myrandom() float {
+	const (
+		IM = 139968;
+		IA = 3877;
+		IC = 29573;
+	)
+	lastrandom = (lastrandom * IA + IC) % IM;
+	// Integer to float conversions are faster if the integer is signed.
+	return float(lastrandom) / IM;
+}
+
+func AccumulateProbabilities(genelist []AminoAcid) {
+	cp := 0.0;
+	for i := 0; i < len(genelist); i++ {
+		cp += genelist[i].p;
+		genelist[i].p = cp;
+	}
+}
+
+/* This function prints the characters of the string s. When it */
+/* reaches the end of the string, it goes back to the beginning */
+/* It stops when the total number of characters printed is count. */
+/* Between each WIDTH consecutive characters it prints a newline */
+/* This function assumes that WIDTH <= strlen (s) + 1 */
+func RepeatFasta(s []byte, count int) {
+	pos := 0;
+	s2 := make([]byte, len(s) + WIDTH);
+	bytes.Copy(s2, s);
+	bytes.Copy(s2[len(s):len(s2)], s);
+	for {
+		line := min(WIDTH, count);
+		out.Write(s2[pos:pos+line]);
+		out.WriteByte('\n');
+		pos += line;
+		if pos >= len(s) {
+			pos -= len(s);
+		}
+		count -= line;
+		if count <= 0 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/* This function takes a pointer to the first element of an array */
+/* Each element of the array is a struct with a character and */
+/* a float number p between 0 and 1. */
+/* The function generates a random float number r and */
+/* finds the first array element such that p >= r. */
+/* This is a weighted random selection. */
+/* The function then prints the character of the array element. */
+/* This is done count times. */
+/* Between each WIDTH consecutive characters, the function prints a newline */
+func RandomFasta(genelist []AminoAcid, count int) {
+	buf := make([]byte, WIDTH + 1);
+	for {
+		line := min(WIDTH, count);
+		pos := 0;
+		for {
+			r := myrandom();
+			var i int;
+			for i = 0; genelist[i].p < r; i++ {
+			}
+			buf[pos] = genelist[i].c;
+			pos++;
+			if pos >= line {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		buf[line] = '\n';
+		out.Write(buf[0:line + 1]);
+		count -= line;
+		if count <= 0 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func main() {
+	out = bufio.NewWriter(os.Stdout);
+	defer out.Flush();
+
+	flag.Parse();
+
+	iub := []AminoAcid {
+		AminoAcid{ 0.27, 'a' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.12, 'c' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.12, 'g' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.27, 't' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'B' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'D' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'H' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'K' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'M' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'N' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'R' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'S' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'V' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'W' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.02, 'Y' }
+	};
+
+	homosapiens := []AminoAcid {
+		AminoAcid{ 0.3029549426680, 'a' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.1979883004921, 'c' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.1975473066391, 'g' },
+		AminoAcid{ 0.3015094502008, 't' }
+	};
+
+	AccumulateProbabilities(iub);
+	AccumulateProbabilities(homosapiens);
+
+	alu := strings.Bytes(""
+		"GGCCGGGCGCGGTGGCTCACGCCTGTAATCCCAGCACTTTGG"
+		"GAGGCCGAGGCGGGCGGATCACCTGAGGTCAGGAGTTCGAGA"
+		"CCAGCCTGGCCAACATGGTGAAACCCCGTCTCTACTAAAAAT"
+		"ACAAAAATTAGCCGGGCGTGGTGGCGCGCGCCTGTAATCCCA"
+		"GCTACTCGGGAGGCTGAGGCAGGAGAATCGCTTGAACCCGGG"
+		"AGGCGGAGGTTGCAGTGAGCCGAGATCGCGCCACTGCACTCC"
+		"AGCCTGGGCGACAGAGCGAGACTCCGTCTCAAAAA");
+
+	out.WriteString(">ONE Homo sapiens alu\n");
+	RepeatFasta(alu, 2 * *n);
+	out.Flush();
+	out.WriteString(">TWO IUB ambiguity codes\n");
+	RandomFasta(iub, 3 * *n);
+	out.Flush();
+	out.WriteString(">THREE Homo sapiens frequency\n");
+	RandomFasta(homosapiens, 5 * *n);
+	out.Flush();
+}