Gene Network Inference

This book presents recent methods for Systems Genetics (SG) data analysis, applying them to a suite of simulated SG benchmark datasets. Each of the chapter authors received the same datasets to evaluate the performance of their method to better understand which algorithms are most useful for obtaining reliable models from SG datasets. The knowledge gained from this benchmarking study will ultimately allow these algorithms to be used with confidence for SG studies e.g. of complex human diseases or food crop improvement. The book is primarily intended for researchers with a background in the life sciences, not for computer scientists or statisticians.

This volume explores recent techniques for the computational inference of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). The chapters in this book cover topics such as methods to infer GRNs from time-varying data; the extraction of causal information from biological data; GRN inference from multiple heterogeneous data sets; non-parametric and hybrid statistical methods; the joint inference of differential networks; and mechanistic models of gene regulation dynamics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, descriptions of recently developed methods for GRN inference, applications of these methods on real and/ or simulated biological data, and step-by-step tutorials on the usage of associated software tools. Cutting-edge and thorough, Gene Regulatory Networks: Methods and Protocols is an essential tool for evaluating the current research needed to further address the common challenges faced by specialists in this field.

Inferring gene regulatory networks is a difficult problem to solve due to the relative scarcity of data compared to the potential size of the networks. While researchers have developed techniques to find some of the underlying network structure, there is still no one-size-fits-all algorithm for every data set. Network Inference in Molecular Biology examines the current techniques used by researchers, and provides key insights into which algorithms best fit a collection of data. Through a series of in-depth examples, the book also outlines how to mix-and-match algorithms, in order to create one tailored to a specific data situation. Network Inference in Molecular Biology is intended for advanced-level students and researchers as a reference guide. Practitioners and professionals working in a related field will also find this book valuable.

The first comprehensive treatment of probabilistic Boolean networks, unifying different strands of current research and addressing emerging issues.

Introducing a handbook for gene regulatory network research using evolutionary computation, with applications for computer scientists, computational and system biologists This book is a step-by-step guideline for research in gene regulatory networks (GRN) using evolutionary computation (EC). The book is organized into four parts that deliver materials in a way equally attractive for a reader with training in computation or biology. Each of these sections, authored by well-known researchers and experienced practitioners, provides the relevant materials for the interested readers. The first part of this book contains an introductory background to the field. The second part presents the EC approaches for analysis and reconstruction of GRN from gene expression data. The third part of this book covers the contemporary advancements in the automatic construction of gene regulatory and reaction networks and gives direction and guidelines for future research. Finally, the last part of this book focuses on applications of GRNs with EC in other fields, such as design, engineering and robotics. • Provides a reference for current and future research in gene regulatory networks (GRN) using evolutionary computation (EC) • Covers sub-domains of GRN research using EC, such as expression profile analysis, reverse engineering, GRN evolution, applications • Contains useful contents for courses in gene regulatory networks, systems biology, computational biology, and synthetic biology • Delivers state-of-the-art research in genetic algorithms, genetic programming, and swarm intelligence Evolutionary Computation in Gene Regulatory Network Research is a reference for researchers and professionals in computer science, systems biology, and bioinformatics, as well as upper undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students. Hitoshi Iba is a Professor in the Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, at the University of Tokyo, Toyko, Japan. He is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation and the journal of Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines. Nasimul Noman is a lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. From 2002 to 2012 he was a faculty member at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Noman is an Editor of the BioMed Research International journal. His research interests include computational biology, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics.

Scientists today have access to an unprecedented arsenal of high-tech tools that can be used to thoroughly characterize biological systems of interest. High-throughput “omics” technologies enable to generate enormous quantities of data at the DNA, RNA, epigenetic and proteomic levels. One of the major challenges of the post-genomic era is to extract functional information by integrating such heterogeneous high-throughput genomic data. This is not a trivial task as we are increasingly coming to understand that it is not individual genes, but rather biological pathways and networks that drive an organism’s response to environmental factors and the development of its particular phenotype. In order to fully understand the way in which these networks interact (or fail to do so) in specific states (disease for instance), we must learn both, the structure of the underlying networks and the rules that govern their behavior. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in methods that aim to infer biological networks. These methods enable the opportunity for better understanding the interactions between genomic features and the overall structure and behavior of the underlying networks. So far, such network models have been mainly used to identify and validate new interactions between genes of interest. But ultimately, one could use these networks to predict large-scale effects of perturbations, such as treatment by multiple targeted drugs. However, currently, we are still at an early stage of comprehending methods and approaches providing a robust statistical framework to quantitatively assess the quality of network inference and its predictive potential. The scope of this Research Topic in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology aims at addressing these issues by investigating the various, complementary approaches to quantify the quality of network models. These “validation” techniques could focus on assessing quality of specific interactions, global and local structures, and predictive ability of network models. These methods could rely exclusively on in silico evaluation procedures or they could be coupled with novel experimental designs to generate the biological data necessary to properly validate inferred networks.

"This book focuses on methods widely used in modeling gene networks including structure discovery, learning, and optimization"--Provided by publisher.

This is the first comprehensive treatment of probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs), an important model class for studying genetic regulatory networks. This book covers basic model properties, including the relationships between network structure and dynamics, steady-state analysis, and relationships to other model classes." "Researchers in mathematics, computer science, and engineering are exposed to important applications in systems biology and presented with ample opportunities for developing new approaches and methods. The book is also appropriate for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and scientists working in the fields of computational biology, genomic signal processing, control and systems theory, and computer science.