Genomics Data Analysis

The objective is to prepare students and scientists to analyze genomics data using empirical Bayes methods and to critically evaluate the statistical methods appearing in genomics articles. That is accomplished by providing the information needed for them to interpret p values for their current or future research.

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Statisticians have met the need to test hundreds or thousands of genomics hypotheses simultaneously with novel empirical Bayes methods that combine advantages of traditional Bayesian and frequentist statistics. Techniques for estimating the local false discovery rate assign probabilities of differential gene expression, genetic association, etc. without requiring subjective prior distributions. This book brings these methods to scientists while keeping the mathematics at an elementary level. Readers will learn the fundamental concepts behind local false discovery rates, preparing them to analyze their own genomics data and to critically evaluate published genomics research.

Key Features:

* dice games and exercises, including one using interactive software, for teaching the concepts in the classroom

* examples focusing on gene expression and on genetic association data and briefly covering metabolomics data and proteomics data

* gradual introduction to the mathematical equations needed

* how to choose between different methods of multiple hypothesis testing

* how to convert the output of genomics hypothesis testing software to estimates of local false discovery rates

* guidance through the minefield of current criticisms of p values

* material on non-Bayesian prior p values and posterior p values not previously published