A tree-like Bayesian structure learning algorithm for small-sample datasets from complex biological model systems.

Journal: BMC systems biology
Published Date:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are increasing efforts to bring high-throughput systems biology techniques to bear on complex animal model systems, often with a goal of learning about underlying regulatory network structures (e.g., gene regulatory networks). However, complex animal model systems typically have significant limitations on cohort sizes, number of samples, and the ability to perform follow-up and validation experiments. These constraints are particularly problematic for many current network learning approaches, which require large numbers of samples and may predict many more regulatory relationships than actually exist.

Authors

  • Weiwei Yin
    Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China. wwyin@mail.zju.edu.cn.
  • Swetha Garimalla
    School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. swetha.garimalla@gatech.edu.
  • Alberto Moreno
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. camoren@emory.edu.
  • Mary R Galinski
    Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Mary.Galinski@emory.edu.
  • Mark P Styczynski
    School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0100, USA. Mark.Styczynski@chbe.gatech.edu.