Using Bayesian networks to analyze expression data

DNA hybridization arrays simultaneously measure the expression level for thousands of genes. These measurements provide a "snapshot" of transcription levels within the cell. A major challenge in computational biology is to uncover, from such measurements, gene/protein interactions and key biological features of cellular systems. In this paper, we propose a new framework for discovering interactions between genes based on multiple expression measurements. This framework builds on the use of Bayesian networks for representing statistical dependencies. A Bayesian network is a graph-based model of joint multivariate probability distributions that captures properties of conditional independence between variables. Such models are attractive for their ability to describe complex stochastic processes, and since they provide clear methodologies for learning from (noisy) observations. We start by showing how Bayesian networks can describe interactions between genes. We then describe a...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: RECOMB
• Authors: Nir Friedman, Michal Linial, Iftach Nachman, Dana Pe'er
• Keywords: Bayesian Networks, Cerevisiae Cell-cycle Measurements, Computational Biology, Multiple Expression Measurements, RECOMB 2000