Knowledge-primed neural networks enable biologically interpretable deep learning on single-cell sequencing data.

Journal: Genome biology
Published Date:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Deep learning has emerged as a versatile approach for predicting complex biological phenomena. However, its utility for biological discovery has so far been limited, given that generic deep neural networks provide little insight into the biological mechanisms that underlie a successful prediction. Here we demonstrate deep learning on biological networks, where every node has a molecular equivalent, such as a protein or gene, and every edge has a mechanistic interpretation, such as a regulatory interaction along a signaling pathway.

Authors

  • Nikolaus Fortelny
    CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
  • Christoph Bock
    CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria. cbock@cemm.oeaw.ac.at.