Intra- and inter-individual variance of gene expression in clinical studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Variance in microarray studies has been widely discussed as a critical topic on the identification of differentially expressed genes; however, few studies have addressed the influence of estimating variance.

Methodology/principal findings

To break intra- and inter-individual variance in clinical studies down to three levels--technical, anatomic, and individual--we designed experiments and algorithms to investigate three forms of variances. As a case study, a group of "inter-individual variable genes" were identified to exemplify the influence of underestimated variance on the statistical and biological aspects in identification of differentially expressed genes. Our results showed that inadequate estimation of variance inevitably led to the inclusion of non-statis

SUBMITTER: Cheng WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3377725 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature