A sequence alignment method that may be performed by a vector processor is may include loading a sequence that is an instance of vector data including a plurality of elements, dividing the sequence into two groups, aligning respective elements of the groups to generate a sequence of sorted elements according to a single instruction multiple data mode, and iteratively performing an alignment operation based on a determination that each group in the sequence of sorted elements includes more than one element of the plurality of elements. Each iteration may include dividing each group to form new groups and aligning respective elements of each pair of adjacent new groups to generate a new sequence of sorted elements. The new sequence of a current iteration of the alignment operation may be transmitted as a data output, based on a determination that each new group does not include more than one element.