Systems and methods for statistical genomic dna based analysis and evaluation

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing rapid genomic DNA analysis of samples, such as control samples and experimental samples. In one aspect, the system makes use of genomic DNA input, rather than gene expression input such as mRNA and/or cDNA associated with mRNA. The systems and methods perform statistical analyses on data generated from the samples to determine which DNA sequences in an identified set of DNA sequences have a basis of variation in an experimental sample when compared to a control sample, and additionally provide a quantitative measure of this variation. The quantitative measure may be based on metrics such as copy number and/or fold-change. The systems and methods employ this statistical framework in DNA-based evaluation settings, including the evaluation/diagnosis of a pathological condition such as cancer or transgenic analysis of transgenic plants and animals. The systems and methods also provide means to select and refine the selection of DNA sequences, such as genes, known to undergo copy change for a particular pathological condition. This leads to the creation of stock gene sets catered to individual application areas and/or clinical uses, which may be used with the systems and methods described in this application for the purpose of, for example, a clinical kit for rapid DNA-based evaluation.