U.S. patent application number 13/937522 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for system and method for genotype analysis and enhanced monte carlo simulation method to estimate misclassification rate in automated genotyping.
This patent application is currently assigned to Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sami Kanderian.
Application Number | 20140107937 13/937522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45441747 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140107937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kanderian; Sami |
April 17, 2014 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENOTYPE ANALYSIS AND ENHANCED MONTE CARLO
SIMULATION METHOD TO ESTIMATE MISCLASSIFICATION RATE IN AUTOMATED
GENOTYPING
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and systems for the
analysis of the dissociation behavior of nucleic acids. The present
invention includes methods and systems for analyzing dynamic
profiles of genotypes of nucleic acids, including the steps of
using a computer, including a processor and a memory, to convert
dynamic profiles of known genotypes of a nucleic acid to
multi-dimensional data points, wherein the dynamic profiles each
comprise measurements of a signal representing a physical change of
a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to an
independent variable; using the computer to reduce the
multi-dimensional data points into reduced-dimensional data points;
and generating a plot of the reduced-dimensional data points for
each genotype. The present invention also relates to methods and
systems for calculating error statistics for an assay for
identifying a genotype in a biological sample using an enhanced
Monte Carlo simulation method to generate a set of N random data
points for each known genotype within a class of known genotypes,
where each set of N random data points has the same mean data point
and covariance matrix as a data set for each of the known
genotypes.
Inventors: |
Kanderian; Sami;
(Germantown, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc. |
Rockville |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Canon U.S. Life Sciences,
Inc.
Rockville
MD
|
Family ID: |
45441747 |
Appl. No.: |
13/937522 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13172104 |
Jun 29, 2011 |
8483972 |
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13937522 |
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12759415 |
Apr 13, 2010 |
8412466 |
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13172104 |
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61168649 |
Apr 13, 2009 |
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61359821 |
Jun 29, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
702/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16B 20/00 20190201;
C12Q 1/6827 20130101; C12Q 1/6827 20130101; C12Q 2527/107 20130101;
C12Q 2537/165 20130101; G16B 40/00 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/20 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/18 20060101
G06F019/18 |
Claims
1. A method of analyzing dynamic profiles of genotypes of nucleic
acids, the method comprising: using a computer, including a
processor and a memory, to convert dynamic profiles of known
genotypes of a nucleic acid to multi-dimensional data points,
wherein the dynamic profiles each comprise measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
known genotype relative to an independent variable; using the
computer to reduce the multi-dimensional data points into
reduced-dimensional data points; generating a plot of the
reduced-dimensional data points for each genotype.
2-15. (canceled)
16. A method of determining the identity of a genotype of a nucleic
acid present in a biological sample, comprising: (a) generating a
dynamic profile of an unknown genotype contained in the biological
sample, wherein the dynamic profile comprises measurements of a
signal representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing
the unknown genotype relative to an independent variable; (b) using
a computer including a processor and a memory to compare the
dynamic profile of the unknown genotype with an average dynamic
profile of each known genotype in a class of known genotypes to
generate a multi-dimensional data point, wherein the average
dynamic profile of a known genotype comprises average measurements
of a signal representing the physical change of a nucleic acid
containing the known genotype relative to the independent variable
and wherein the elements of the reduced-dimensional data point are
correlation coefficients between the dynamic profile of the unknown
genotype and the average dynamic profile for each known genotype in
the class of genotypes; (c) transforming the multi-dimensional data
point to a reduced-dimensional data point; and (d) generating a
plot showing the reduced-dimensional data point for the unknown
genotype.
17-18. (canceled)
19. A system for analyzing dynamic profiles of genotypes of nucleic
acids, comprising: a computer, including a processor and a memory;
a conversion module configured to convert dynamic profiles of known
genotypes of a nucleic acid to multi-dimensional data points,
wherein the dynamic profiles each comprise measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
known genotype relative to an independent variable; a reduction
module configured to reduce the multi-dimensional data points into
reduced-dimensional data points; a display device; and a plotting
module, configured to generate a plot of the reduced-dimensional
data points for each genotype on the display device.
20-56. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/172,104 filed Jun. 29, 2011, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415
filed Apr. 13, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,466 issued Apr. 2,
2013, which itself claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/168,649, filed on Apr. 13, 2009, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application
further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
61/359,821, filed Jun. 29, 2010, the entirety of which is also
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to methods for the analysis of
nucleic acids and the identification of genotypes present in
biological samples. More specifically, embodiments of the present
invention relate to automated methods for genotyping and analyzing
the sequences of nucleic acids. More specifically, embodiments of
the present invention relate to methods for genotyping through
visual identification of data and the assessment of assays through
visual comparison of data and/or quantification of the quality of
the assay.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The detection of nucleic acids is central to medicine,
forensic science, industrial processing, crop and animal breeding,
and many other fields. The ability to detect disease conditions
(e.g., cancer), infectious organisms (e.g., HIV), genetic lineage,
genetic markers, and the like, is ubiquitous technology for disease
diagnosis and prognosis, marker assisted selection, correct
identification of crime scene features, the ability to propagate
industrial organisms and many other techniques. Determination of
the integrity of a nucleic acid of interest can be relevant to the
pathology of an infection or cancer. One of the most powerful and
basic technologies to detect small quantities of nucleic acids is
to replicate some or all of a nucleic acid sequence many times, and
then analyze the amplification products. The polymerase chain
reaction, or PCR, is perhaps the most well-known of a number of
different amplification techniques.
[0006] PCR is a powerful technique for amplifying short sections of
DNA. With PCR, one can quickly produce millions of copies of DNA
starting from a single template DNA molecule. PCR includes a three
phase temperature cycle of denaturation of DNA into single strands,
annealing of primers to the denatured strands, and extension of the
primers by a thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme. This cycle is
repeated so that there are enough copies to be detected and
analyzed. In principle, each cycle of PCR could double the number
of copies. In practice, the multiplication achieved after each
cycle is always less than 2. Furthermore, as PCR cycling continues,
the buildup of amplified DNA products eventually ceases as the
concentrations of required reactants diminish. For general details
concerning PCR, see Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning--A
Laboratory Manual (3rd Ed.), Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2000); Current Protocols in
Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols, a
joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., (supplemented through 2005) and PCR
Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis et al.,
eds., Academic Press Inc. San Diego, Calif. (1990).
[0007] Real-time PCR refers to a growing set of techniques in which
one measures the buildup of amplified DNA products as the reaction
progresses, typically once per PCR cycle. Monitoring the
accumulation of products over time allows one to determine the
efficiency of the reaction, as well as to estimate the initial
concentration of DNA template molecules. For general details
concerning real-time PCR see Real-Time PCR: An Essential Guide, K.
Edwards et al., eds., Horizon Bioscience, Norwich, U.K. (2004).
[0008] More recently, a number of high throughput approaches to
performing PCR and other amplification reactions have been
developed, e.g., involving amplification reactions in microfluidic
devices, as well as methods for detecting and analyzing amplified
nucleic acids in or on the devices. Thermal cycling of the sample
for amplification in microfluidic devices is usually accomplished
in one of two methods. In the first method, the sample solution is
loaded into the device and the temperature is cycled in time, much
like a conventional PCR instrument. In the second method, the
sample solution is pumped continuously through spatially varying
temperature zones. See, e.g., Lagally et al. (Analytical Chemistry
73:565-570 (2001)), Kopp et al. (Science 280:1046-1048 (1998)),
Park et al. (Analytical Chemistry 75:6029-6033 (2003)), Hahn et al.
(WO 2005/075683), Enzelberger et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,437) and
Knapp et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2005/0042639).
[0009] Once there are a sufficient number of copies of the original
DNA molecule, the DNA can be characterized. One method of
characterizing the DNA is to examine the DNA's dissociation
behavior as the DNA transitions from double stranded DNA (dsDNA) to
single stranded DNA (ssDNA). The process of causing DNA to
transition from dsDNA to ssDNA with increasing temperature is
sometimes referred to as a "high-resolution temperature (thermal)
melt (HR.TM.)" process, or simply a "high-resolution melt" process.
Alternatively, the transition from ssDNA to dsDNA may be observed
through various electrochemical methods, which generate a dynamic
current as the potential across the system is changed.
[0010] Melting profile analysis is an important technique for
analyzing nucleic acids. In some methods, a double stranded nucleic
acid is denatured in the presence of a dye that indicates whether
the two strands are bound or not. Examples of such indicator dyes
include non-specific binding dyes such as SYBR.RTM. Green I, whose
fluorescence efficiency depends strongly on whether it is bound to
double stranded DNA. As the temperature of the mixture is raised, a
reduction in fluorescence from the dye indicates that the nucleic
acid molecule has melted, i.e., unzipped, partially or completely.
Thus, by measuring the dye fluorescence as a function of
temperature, information is gained regarding the length of the
duplex, the GC content or even the exact sequence. See, e.g., Ririe
et al. (Anal Biochem 245:154-160, 1997), Wittwer et al. (Clin Chem
49:853-860, 2003), Liew et al. (Clin Chem 50:1156-1164 (2004),
Herrmann et al. (Clin Chem 52:494-503, 2006), Knapp et al. (U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0197630), Wittwer et al.
(U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0233335), Wittwer et
al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0019253),
Sundberg et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2007/0026421) and Knight et al. (U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2007/0231799).
[0011] An alternative method for analyzing a nucleic acid uses
voltammetry to detect electrochemical biosensors to detect nucleic
acid hybridization. Electrochemical technology is miniaturizable,
accurate, and sensitive with controlled reaction conditions. Both
label-free and labeled approaches exist for detecting nucleic acid
hybridization. Label-free approaches generally rely on changes to
the electrical properties of an interface when bound to a nucleic
acid, changes in flexibility between rigid dsDNA and more flexible
ssDNA, or electrochemical oxidation of guanine bases. See, e.g.,
Gooding (Electroanalysis 14:1149-1156, 2002), Gooding et al. (Chem.
Commun. 2003:1938-1939, 2003), Mearns et al. (Electroanalysis
18:1971-1981, 2006); Paleck (Electroanalysis 8:7-14, 1996). Labeled
approaches for detecting nucleic acid hybridization are more common
and well-known than label-free approaches. These approaches
generally involve redox active molecules that intercalate between
Watson-Crick base pairs of a nucleic acid or in the minor or major
grooves of the nucleic acid secondary structure, and thus do not
interact with single-stranded nucleic acids. Examples of such redox
active molecules include Co(Phen).sub.3.sup.3+,
Co(bpy).sub.3.sup.3+, and Methylene Blue. See, e.g., Mikkelsen
(Electroanalysis 8:15-19, 1996); Erdem et al. (Anal. Chim. Acta
422:139-149, 2000). In some cases, the redox active molecules bind
preferentially to either dsDNA or ssDNA. Another alternative method
includes attaching a label group, such as a ferrocene group, to the
end of a nucleic acid probe, which is immobilized on an electrode
surface. See, e.g., Mearns et al. (Electrochemistry 18:1971-1981,
2006); Anne et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128:542-547, 2006); Lai et
al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103:4017-4021, 2006); Fan et al.
(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100:9134-9147, 2003); Xiao et al.
(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103:16677-16680, 2006). The
single-stranded probe molecule is flexible enough that the
ferrocene group may come within close enough contact with the
electrode surface to be oxidized or reduced. However, upon
hybridization, the rigid double-stranded nucleic acid molecule
stands normal to the electrode surface, and the ferrocene group is
sufficiently far from the electrode that it will not be oxidized or
reduced.
[0012] These systems may all be interrogated through cyclic
voltammetry. By applying an electric potential that increases or
decreases over time across the system, a variable electric current
is generated as the label or DNA molecule is oxidized or reduced.
Complete hybridization of the target molecule to the probe molecule
will generate a characteristic dynamic profile of current generated
versus voltage applied. Incomplete hybridization, which would occur
if the target molecule contained a mutant genotype, would result in
a differing dynamic profile of current generated versus voltage
applied. Thus, different nucleic acid sequences may be
distinguished from one another through examination of their
respective voltammograms.
[0013] Some nucleic acid assays require differentiation between
potential genotypes within a class of known genotypes. Generally,
for thermal melt analysis, researchers will visually inspect a
thermal melt profile to determine the melting temperature of the
nucleic acid in the sample. However, some nucleic acid assays
require identification of a single nucleotide change where the
difference in melting temperature (T.sub.m) between the wild type
nucleic acid and a mutant nucleic acid is quite small (e.g. less
than 0.25.degree. C.). This level of temperature resolution is
difficult to achieve in a visual inspection. Furthermore, visual
inspection of thermal melt profiles to determine melting
temperature ignores significant additional information contained in
the profiles, such as the overall shape and distribution of the
profile.
[0014] In developing assays and instruments for automated genotype
classification, it is important to assess and quantify the expected
accuracy and misclassification rate for a particular population, as
well as for a particular assay. Quantitative and visual feedback to
scientists and engineers is important, as it tells them how well an
assay as a whole is expected to perform in the field. Components of
the assay, or assay parameters, may include the following: (i)
assay reagents responsible for the amplification of DNA segments,
including the primers responsible for amplification of DNA segments
where mutations of interest may lie; (ii) sensing and control
instrumentation for an assay; (iii) reaction conditions under which
the sensing and control instrumentation operates; (iv) the process
by which raw data is collected from such an assay (e.g. the imaging
system to monitor fluorescence, temperature control systems,
temperature sensing systems); and (v) algorithms or assay software
that transform raw data into an identification of a genotype.
[0015] A change in any of the assay parameters has the potential of
making the system perform better or worse. It is important to
quantify and visualize the improvement or detriment to the system
performance resulting from the change. The quantitative indicator
would be a measure of how well different genotypes are separated,
and a visual representation would be a scatter of points
representing different genotypes plotted on a page. A single data
point is defined by one or more parameters obtained from a DNA
sample of a particular genotype. The parameters may be derived from
some sort of analysis on raw signals, whether static or dynamic in
nature. Parameters from static raw signals may come from a steady
state absorbance value where by an unknown DNA sample fluoresces
when the individual strands bind to their complementary tagged
allele.
[0016] Though a user can visualize the separation of the genotype
clusters described by reduced-dimensional data points, it would be
useful to quantify their separation defined by the expected
misclassification rate. One way to quantify the separation of
different genotypes is to compute the ratio of the determinants of
the between-class scatter matrix to the within-class scatter matrix
as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415.
However, at times, these matrices may be singular yielding a
determinant of 0, making this quantifier impossible to compute.
Furthermore the optimal quantifier for the separation of genotypes
is an error statistic for the assay, as the objective of the
scientist or engineer responsible for developing new assays is to
minimize this error statistic. More specifically, it is also
important to know which of the genotypes are most likely to be
misclassified as another genotype. Further, it is important to know
an overall expected misclassification rate for the assay.
[0017] Genotyping systems that yield dynamic signals may include
high resolution thermal melt curves where fluorescence versus
temperature or the derivative of fluorescence versus temperature
yields a unique signature or profile for each genotype. In this
instance, an operator may identify a genotype by visually comparing
dynamic temperature profiles that yield a unique signature or
profile for each genotype. Typically an operator identifies the
genotype by visually comparing these dynamic signatures, not as
data points. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415, each
dynamic curve is transformed to a correlation vector defined by a
set of parameters (usually 3). A correlation vector with three
parameters can be plotted as a point in three-dimensional space;
likewise, a correlation vector with two parameters can be plotted
in two-dimensional space.
[0018] It is much simpler to visually classify and observe the
degree of separation of different genotypes using a cluster plot of
data points rather than looking at the dynamic melt curves from
which they were derived. Furthermore, if a data point is not
contained within any clusters of previously identified genotypes,
this may indicate the discovery of a new mutation or genotype.
[0019] Once these parameters or data points are derived, the DNA
sample may be identified either visually by the operator or
automatically by a computer classification algorithm (as in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415). In the genotyping problem,
a DNA sample is classified as one of several possible genotypes.
Typically, the genotype may either be classified as homozygous
wildtype (WT), heterozygous (HE) or homozygous mutant (HM)
depending on the alleles that make up the DNA. No mutations in
either allele results in a homozygous wildtype genotype. A mutation
in only one allele results in a heterozygous genotype and a
mutation in both alleles results in a homozygous genotype. Data
points from the same genotype form a cluster. In genotyping or any
classification problem, it is important for clusters representing
different genotypes or classes to be far apart from each other to
minimize the likelihood of misclassification. Currently the visual
representation of different high resolution melts is displayed as
dynamic curves to the user. Representing each dynamic curve as a
data point is useful because in a classification problem such as
this, the position of a point relative to genotype clusters
obtained from a training set of known genotypes tells the user
which cluster a DNA sample of unknown genotype likely belongs to
along with a level of confidence.
[0020] In trying to approximate the misclassification rate of an
assay, one may be able to run a limited sample size study of
N.sub.E experimental DNA samples, make the automated identification
of the samples, and derive the percentage of incorrect calls from
that process. However, due to the fact that a study is limited in
number, the calculation of the misclassification rate in this
fashion can result in a misclassification rate that is a multiple
of 1/N.sub.E, and thus a misclassification rate of less than
1/N.sub.E cannot be detected. When rapidly going through multiple
iterations of assay, instrument or algorithm design, N.sub.E cannot
be very large in the interest of saving time and resources in the
process of system optimization. Therefore, it is difficult to
assess the improvement or detriment to system performance that
results from a change without running multiple experiments.
[0021] Accordingly, what are desired are methods and systems for
data analysis that are capable of visually representing data
obtained from genotyping analytic systems in a way that allows an
investigator to analyze the set of all genotypes together, or to
identify a genotype based on how closely it maps to profiles
representing the same genotype and how separate it is from other
genotypes. In one instance, the methods and systems may be for high
resolution melt analysis and may utilize data obtained from thermal
melt analysis. Further, there is a need for a method and system
that allows a user to estimate an error statistic for an assay
without running numerous experiments using the assay. Further,
there is a need for being able to measure and/or visually represent
the improvement in an error statistic of an assay when a parameter
(e.g., reaction components) is altered, discriminating the
resulting thermal melt curves and obtaining DNA sequence
information from these melting curves, especially where these
thermal melt curves are differentiated by a small temperature
range. Also desired are methods and systems for high resolution
melt analysis that more accurately identify thermal melt curves
that facilitate detection of sequence information for DNA that
contain one or more peaks or mutations. Also desired are methods
and systems that are capable of more accurately identifying a
nucleic acid sequence and discriminating between similar sequences
while taking into account both features of the profile as well as
the overall shape. Also desired are methods that are capable of
rapidly identifying a genotype with minimal intervention and
decision-making from the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention relates to methods and systems for the
analysis of nucleic acids and the identification of genotypes
present in biological samples. More specifically, embodiments of
the present invention relate to automated methods and systems to
analyze the sequences of nucleic acids and to classify their
genotypes that are useful for determining the identity of the
genotype of a nucleic acid that is present in a biological
sample.
[0023] The present invention relates to methods and systems for the
analysis of nucleic acids, assays for the analysis of nucleic
acids, and the identification of genotypes present in biological
samples. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention
relate to methods and systems to aid investigators in analysis of
genotypes present in biological samples through visualization and
plotting, as well as analysis of assays for the identification of
genotypes and quantified comparisons of the quality of the
assays.
[0024] Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method
of analyzing dynamic profiles of genotypes of nucleic acids. This
method may include the steps of using a computer, including a
processor and a memory, to convert dynamic profiles of known
genotypes of a nucleic acid to multi-dimensional data points, using
the computer to reduce the multi-dimensional data points into
reduced dimensional data points, and generating a plot of the
reduced-dimensional data points for each genotype. In this aspect,
the dynamic profiles may each comprise measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
known genotype relative to an independent variable.
[0025] In one embodiment, the plot may include multiple axes that
each represent boundaries for where correlation of the dynamic
profiles represented is maximal against various average profiles of
known genotypes for each known genotype. In another embodiment,
generating the plot may include showing the extent to which
clusters of the reduced-dimensional data points for each of the
known genotypes are separated. In one embodiment, the
multi-dimensional data points may be (n+1)-dimensional data points,
and the reduced-dimensional data points may be n-dimensional data
points. In another embodiment, the multi-dimensional data points
may be three-dimensional data points and the reduced-dimensional
data points may be two-dimensional data points.
[0026] In a further embodiment, the method may include the
additional steps of using the computer to generate a mean and
covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes from the set of
reduced-dimensional data points representing dynamic profiles for
each corresponding known genotype, using the computer to calculate
eigenvalues and eigenvectors of each of the covariance matrices,
using the computer to calculate a rotation angle and major/minor
axis width of an n-ellipse for each of the known genotypes, and
displaying the n-ellipses on the plot. In a further embodiment, the
major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse may be proportioned such
that each n-ellipse covers a multiple of the standard deviation of
the reduced dimensional data points representing the dynamic
profiles of its respective genotype. In another further embodiment,
the major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse may be proportioned
such that each n-ellipse contains a predetermined percentage of the
reduced-dimensional data points for its respective genotype. In
another embodiment, the rotation angle of the n-ellipse for a known
genotype may be calculated from the arctangent of the ratio of
elements of an eigenvector of the covariance matrix for that
genotype.
[0027] In another further embodiment, the method may further
include the steps of using the computer to convert a dynamic
profile of an unknown genotype of a nucleic acid to a
multi-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype,
using the computer to transform the multi-dimensional data point
representing the unknown genotype into a reduced-dimensional data
point representing the unknown genotype, and plotting the
reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype on
the plot. A further embodiment of this method may also include the
steps of using the computer to generate a mean and covariance
matrix for each of the known genotypes from the set of
reduced-dimensional data points representing dynamic profiles of
each corresponding known genotype, using the computer to calculate
eigenvalues of each of the covariance matrixes, using the computer
to calculate a rotation angle and major/minor axis widths of an
n-ellipse for each of the known genotypes, displaying the
n-ellipses on the plot, and determining if the reduced-dimensional
data point representing the unknown genotype falls within the
n-ellipse representing one of the known genotypes. In a further
embodiment of this method, the major/minor widths of each n-ellipse
may be proportioned such that each n-ellipse covers a multiple of
the standard deviation of the reduced-dimensional data points
representing the dynamic profiles of its respective genotypes. In
an alternate further embodiment, the major/minor axis widths of
each n-ellipse may be proportioned such that each n-ellipse
contains a predetermined percentage of the reduced-dimensional data
points for each respective genotype. In an alternate further
embodiment, the rotation angle of the n-ellipse for a known
genotype may be calculated from the arctangent of the ratio of the
elements of an eigenvector of the covariance matrix for that
genotype.
[0028] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise the
step of visually identifying the unknown genotype from the
determination of whether the reduced-dimensional data point falls
within an n-ellipse representing one of the known genotypes.
[0029] In another embodiment, the multi-dimensional data points may
be correlation vectors. The correlation vectors may be comprised of
correlation coefficients between a dynamic profile and an average
dynamic profile for each known genotype in a class of genotypes.
The average dynamic profile of a known genotype may include average
measurements of the signal representing the physical change of a
nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to the
independent variable.
[0030] Another aspect of the invention is a method of determining
the identity of a genotype in a biological sample. That method may
include the steps of generating a dynamic profile of an unknown
genotype, using a computer including a processor and a memory to
compare the dynamic profile of the unknown genotype with an average
dynamic profile of each known genotype in a class of known
genotypes to generate a multi-dimensional data point, transforming
the multi-dimensional data point to a reduced-dimensional data
point, generating a plot showing the reduced-dimensional data point
for the unknown genotype, and identifying the unknown genotype. In
this aspect, a dynamic profile may include measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
unknown genotype relative to an independent variable. Further, in
this aspect, the average dynamic profile of a known genotype may
include average measurements of a signal representing the physical
change of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to
the independent variable. The reduced-dimensional data point, in
this aspect, may be a correlation vector. A correlation vector may
include correlation coefficients between the dynamic profile of the
unknown genotype and the average dynamic profile for each known
genotype in the class of genotypes as its elements.
[0031] In one further embodiment, the step of comparing the dynamic
profile of the unknown genotype with an average dynamic profile of
each known genotype may include correlating the dynamic profile of
the unknown genotype with an average dynamic profile of each known
genotype. In a further embodiment, the method may in one instance
further include the step of visually identifying the genotype based
on the location of the reduced-dimensional data point for the
unknown genotype on the plot.
[0032] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a system for
analyzing dynamic profiles of genotypes of nucleic acids. In one
embodiment, this system may include a computer, including a
processor and a memory, a conversion module configured to convert
dynamic profiles of known genotypes of a nucleic acid to
multi-dimensional data points, a reduction module configured to
reduce the multi-dimensional data points into reduced-dimensional
data points; a display device, and a plotting module, configured to
generate a plot of the reduced-dimensional data points for each
genotype on the display device. In this embodiment, the dynamic
profiles may each comprise measurements of a signal representing a
physical change of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype
relative to an independent variable.
[0033] In a further embodiment, the plot may include multiple axes
that each represent boundaries where correlation of the dynamic
profiles represented is maximal against average profiles of known
genotypes for each genotype. In another embodiment, the plotting
module may be configured to display the extent to which clusters of
the reduced-dimensional data points for each of the known genotypes
are separated. In another embodiment, the multi-dimensional data
points may be three-dimensional data points and the
reduced-dimensional data points may be two-dimensional data
points.
[0034] In one embodiment, the system may further include a
statistical matrix generation module configured to generate a mean
and covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes from the set
of reduced-dimensional data points representing dynamic profiles of
each corresponding known genotype; an eigenvalue/eigenvector
calculation module, configured to calculate eigenvalues and
eigenvectors of each of the covariance matrixes, and an ellipse
generation module, configured to calculate a rotation angle and
major/minor axis widths of an n-ellipse for each of the known
genotypes. In this embodiment, the plotting module may be
configured to display the n-ellipses on the plot. In a further
embodiment, the ellipse generation module may determine the
major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse such that each n-ellipse
covers a multiple of the standard deviation of the
reduced-dimensional data points representing the dynamic profiles
of its respective genotype. Alternately, the ellipse generation
module may proportion the major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse
such that each n-ellipse contains a predetermined percentage of the
reduced-dimensional data points for its respective genotype. In
another further embodiment, the rotation angle of the n-ellipse for
a known genotype may be calculated from the arctangent of the ratio
of elements of an eigenvector of the covariance matrix for that
genotype.
[0035] In another embodiment, the conversion module may be
configured to convert a dynamic profile of an unknown genotype of a
nucleic acid to a multi-dimensional data point representing the
unknown genotype, the reduction module may be configured to reduce
the multi-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype
into a reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown
genotype, and the plotting module may be configured to plot the
reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype on
the plot. This embodiment may further include an identification
module configured to identify the unknown genotype. In a further
embodiment, the identification module may be configured to
determine if the reduced-dimensional data point representing the
unknown genotype falls within one of the n-ellipses for a known
genotype. The ellipse generation module may proportion the
major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse such that each n-ellipse
covers a multiple of the standard deviation of the
reduced-dimensional data points representing the dynamic profiles
of its respective genotype. Alternately, the ellipse generation
module may proportion the major/minor axis widths of each n-ellipse
such that each n-ellipse contains a predetermined percentage of the
reduced-dimensional data points for its respective genotype. In yet
another embodiment, the rotation angle of the n-ellipse for a known
genotype may be calculated from the arctangent of the ratio of
elements of an eigenvector of the covariance matrix for that
genotype.
[0036] In one embodiment, the multi-dimensional data points may be
correlation vectors. The correlation vectors may each comprise
correlation coefficients between the dynamic profile and an average
dynamic profile for each known genotype in a class of genotypes.
The average dynamic profile of a known genotype may comprise
average measurements of a signal representing the physical change
of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to the
independent variable.
[0037] Another aspect of the invention is a method and system for
calculating an error statistic for an assay for identifying a
genotype in a biological sample. In one embodiment, a method
comprises the steps of a) generating, using the assay, dynamic
profiles of each known genotype of a nucleic acid; b) using a
computer, including a processor and a memory, to convert the
dynamic profiles of each known genotype to data points; c) using
the computer to transform the data points such that each element of
the data points is normally distributed, and grouping the data
points by each known genotype to generate a data set for each known
genotype; d) using the computer to generate a mean data point and
covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes from the data set
for each genotype; e) using the computer to, for each of the known
genotypes, generate a set of N random data points with the same
mean data point and covariance matrix for each of the known
genotypes; f) using the computer to calculate an error statistic
for the assay, based upon at least one of the generated sets of N
random data points for a known genotype. The dynamic profiles may
each comprise measurements of a signal representing a physical
change of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to
an independent variable.
[0038] In a further embodiment, the step of generating N random
data points with the same mean data point and covariance matrix for
each known genotype may include the following steps: i) using the
computer to calculate a Cholesky factorization of the covariance
matrix for each known genotype; ii) using the computer to generate
a set of N random data points with a normalized distribution for
each known genotype; iii) using the computer to transform the set
of N random data points for each known genotype with the Cholesky
factorization for that genotype to generate N transformed random
data points for each known genotype; and iv) using the computer to
shift each of the set of N transformed random data points for each
known genotype by the mean data point for that known genotype to
generate N random data points with the same mean data point and
covariance matrix for each known genotype.
[0039] The error statistic may be one of several different error
statistics. In one embodiment, the error statistic may be an
expected misclassification rate for a known genotype. In another
embodiment, the error statistic may be an overall expected
misclassification rate for the assay. In yet another embodiment,
the error statistic may be the posterior probability that an
unknown sample containing one of the known genotypes would be
identified as an individual known genotype.
[0040] In one embodiment of the method, the independent variable in
the assay may be temperature. In this embodiment, the assay may
further comprise a fluorescent intercalating dye, and the
measurements of a signal representing a physical change of a
nucleic acid may be measurements of fluorescence of the fluorescent
dye.
[0041] In one embodiment of the method, the method may include the
additional steps of using the computer to reduce the data points in
each data set for each known genotype into reduced-dimensional data
points, and generating a plot of the reduced-dimensional data
points for each genotype.
[0042] In another embodiment of the method, the method may further
include the step of generating a probability cross table. The
elements of the probability cross table may be posterior
probabilities that a known genotype would be identified as a
possible known genotype.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention, the computer may
further include an input device, and step f) of the method may
include receiving a no-call threshold value from the input device
and using the computer to calculate an error statistic for the
assay, based upon the no-call threshold value and the at least one
set of generated N random data points for a known genotype.
[0044] In another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a
method of optimizing an assay. This method may be performed by a)
generating, using a first assay, dynamic profiles of each known
genotype of a nucleic acid; b) using a computer including a
processor and a memory to convert the dynamic profiles of each
known genotype from the first assay to data points; c) using the
computer to transform the data points from step b) such that each
element of the data points is normally distributed, and grouping
the data points by each known genotype to generate a data set for
each known genotype; d) using the computer to generate a mean data
point and covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes from
the data set for each genotype from step c); e) using the computer
to, for each of the known genotypes, generate a set of N random
data points with the same mean data point and covariance matrix for
each of the known genotypes; f) using the computer to calculate an
error statistic for the first assay, based upon at least one of the
generated sets of N random data points for a known genotype; g)
repeating steps a-f for at least a second assay having a second set
of assay parameters, wherein the first and second set of assay
parameters have at least one differing assay parameter; and h)
comparing the error statistic for the first assay and the error
statistic for the second assay. The first assay may have a first
set of assay parameters. The dynamic profiles may each comprise
measurements of a signal representing a physical change of a
nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to an
independent variable. In one embodiment, the at least one differing
assay parameter may be selected from the group consisting of
reaction components, assay equipment, analysis software, measured
independent variable, or range over which the independent variable
of the dynamic profiles is measured.
[0045] Another aspect of the present invention is a system for
calculating an error statistic for an assay. In that aspect, one
embodiment of that aspect is a system comprising an assay and a
computer. The assay may be configured to generate dynamic profiles
of each known genotype of a nucleic acid. The computer, which may
include a processor and a memory, may be configured to perform the
steps of: a) converting the dynamic profiles generated by the assay
of each known genotype to data points; b) transforming the data
points such that each element of the data points is normally
distributed, and grouping the data points by each known genotype to
generate a data set for each known genotype; c) generating a mean
data point and covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes
from the data set for each genotype; d) generating N random data
points with the same mean data point and covariance matrix for each
of the known genotypes; and e) calculating an error statistic for
the assay, based upon the generated N random data points for a
known genotype. The output module may be configured to output the
error statistic for the assay.
[0046] In a further embodiment of the invention, the step of
generating N random data points with the same mean data point and
covariance matrix for the known genotype may include i) calculating
a Cholesky factorization of the covariance matrix for each known
genotype; ii) generating N random data points with a normalized
distribution for each known genotype; iii) transforming the N
random data points for each known genotype with the Cholesky
factorization for that genotype to generate N transformed random
data points for each known genotype; and iv) shifting each of the N
random data points for each known genotype by the mean data point
to generate a set of N random data points with the same mean data
point and covariance matrix for each known genotype.
[0047] Again, in this aspect of the invention, the error statistic
may be one of several different error statistics. In one
embodiment, the error statistic may be an expected
misclassification rate for a known genotype. In another aspect, the
error statistic may be an overall expected misclassification rate
for the assay. In yet another embodiment, the error statistic may
be the posterior probability that an unknown sample containing one
of the known genotypes would be identified as an individual known
genotype.
[0048] In one embodiment, the independent variable in the assay may
be temperature, and the assay may further include a fluorescent
intercalating dye. In this embodiment, the measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid may be
measurements of fluorescence of the fluorescent dye.
[0049] In one embodiment, the computer may be further configured to
perform the steps of reducing the data points in each data set for
each known genotype into reduced-dimensional data points and said
output module is further adapted to generate a plot of the
reduced-dimensional data points for each genotype.
[0050] In one embodiment, the computer may be further configured to
perform the step of generating a probability cross table. The
elements of the probability cross table may be posterior
probabilities that a known genotype would be identified as a
possible known genotype; and wherein said output module is further
configured to output the probability cross table for the assay.
[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, the assay may be a first
assay, which may have a first set of assay parameters, and the
system may further include a second assay that may include a second
set of assay parameters. The second assay may be configured to
generate a second set of dynamic profiles of each known genotype of
a nucleic acid. Those dynamic profiles may each comprise
measurements of a signal representing a physical change of a
nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to an
independent variable. Further, the first and second set of assay
parameters may have at least one differing assay parameter.
[0052] In this embodiment, the computer may further be configured
to perform the steps of: f) repeating steps a-e for the second
assay; and g) comparing the error statistic for the first assay and
the error statistic for the second assay. Further, the output
module may be further adapted to output the error statistic for the
second assay.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0053] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of
the present invention.
[0054] FIGS. 1A-B illustrate a flowchart showing one embodiment of
a method of analyzing dynamic profiles of genotypes of nucleic
acids through plotting the dynamic profiles as reduced-dimensional
data points.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates a plot of fluorescence versus temperature
dynamic profiles for each genotype within the MTHFR 667
polymorphism class.
[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates a plot of the negative derivative of the
fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles for each genotype
from FIG. 2, within the MTHFR 667 polymorphism class, for
temperatures between 54.degree. C. and 87.degree. C.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates the dynamic profiles of FIG. 3 after
having been horizontally shifted by a shift value determined by
correlation of a positive control dynamic profile to a known
dynamic profile for a positive control.
[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates the dynamic profile of FIG. 4 after
normalization to a predetermined standard deviation, and the
average normalized profile of each genotype within the polymorphism
class (class of known genotypes).
[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a three-dimensional plot containing
three-dimensional data points, where each three-dimensional data
point represents one of the dynamic profiles from FIG. 5, and the
coordinates of each three-dimensional data point are correlation
coefficients of the melt curve against each of the average
normalized profiles of the known genotypes.
[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates a rotation of FIG. 6 such that the (1, 1,
1) plane is normal to the surface.
[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates a two-dimensional graph showing
two-dimensional data points generated by transforming the
three-dimensional data points in FIGS. 6 and 7 through use of a
transformation matrix.
[0062] FIG. 9 illustrates a plot of n-ellipses that each contain
three standard deviations of the two-dimensional data points
representing the dynamic profiles, with one n-ellipse for each
genotype.
[0063] FIG. 10 illustrates the plot of FIG. 9 showing the
computation of the major/minor axis widths of the n-ellipses and
the rotation angle of each n-ellipse.
[0064] FIG. 11 illustrates a graph showing the percentage of points
contained an n-ellipse versus the number of standard deviations of
the distribution covered by the ellipse.
[0065] FIGS. 12A-C illustrate a flowchart showing one embodiment of
a method of calculating an overall expected misclassification rate
for an assay for identifying a genotype in a biological sample.
[0066] FIG. 13 illustrates the three-dimensional data points of
FIG. 6 in which the three-dimensional data points have been
translated into spherical coordinates and are normally
distributed.
[0067] FIG. 14A illustrates a screen shot of an implementation of
the methods and systems of the invention for an assay obtaining
fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles of nucleic acids
of the MTHFR 667 polymorphism class acquired over the temperature
range between 54.degree. C. and 87.degree. C.
[0068] FIG. 14B illustrates a screen shot of an implementation of
the methods and systems of the invention for an assay obtaining
fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles of nucleic acids
of the MTHFR 667 polymorphism class acquired over the temperature
range between 54.degree. C. and 74.degree. C.
[0069] FIG. 14C illustrates a screen shot of an implementation of
the methods and systems of the invention for an assay obtaining
fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles of nucleic acids
of the MTHFR 667 polymorphism class acquired over the temperature
range between 74.degree. C. and 87.degree. C.
[0070] FIGS. 15A-C illustrate three cluster plots and
cross-probability tables from FIGS. 14A-C side-by-side.
[0071] FIG. 16 illustrates the cross-probability tables for the
assays corresponding to FIGS. 14A-C, using a 95% "no-call"
threshold value.
[0072] FIG. 17 illustrates a screen shot of an implementation of
the methods and systems of the present invention for an assay
obtaining fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles of
nucleic acids of the class of possible genotypes in the Exon 10
region responsible for Cystic Fibrosis.
[0073] FIGS. 18A-D illustrate four separate two-dimensional plots
each displaying boundaries at which the correlation of each
genotype in the class of possible genotypes in the Exon 10 region
responsible for Cystic Fibrosis is maximal against each other
genotype.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0074] The present invention has several embodiments and relies on
patents, patent applications and other references for details known
to those of the art. Therefore, when a patent, patent application,
or other reference is cited or repeated herein, it should be
understood that it is incorporated by reference in its entirety for
all purposes as well as for the proposition that is recited.
[0075] The practice of the present invention may employ, unless
otherwise indicated, conventional techniques and descriptions of
organic chemistry, polymer technology, molecular biology (including
recombinant techniques), cell biology, biochemistry, and
immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such
conventional techniques include polymer array synthesis,
hybridization, ligation, and detection of hybridization using a
label. Specific illustrations of suitable techniques can be had by
reference to the example herein below. However, other equivalent
conventional procedures can, of course, also be used. Such
conventional techniques and descriptions can be found in standard
laboratory manuals such as Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual
Series (Vols. I-IV), Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cells:
A Laboratory Manual, PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual, and Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (all from Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory Press), Stryer, L. (1995) Biochemistry (4th Ed.)
Freeman, N.Y., Gait, Oligonucleotide Synthesis: A Practical
Approach, 1984, IRL Press, London, Nelson and Cox (2000),
Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry 3rd Ed., W. H. Freeman Pub.,
New York, N.Y. and Berg et al. (2002) Biochemistry, 5th Ed., W. H.
Freeman Pub., New York, N.Y., all of which are herein incorporated
in their entirety by reference for all purposes.
[0076] Thermal melt curves of fluorescence have been used to
determine the melting temperature of a DNA strand when denatured
from the duplex state to the two separate single strands via a ramp
increase in temperature. Typically, the melting temperature or
T.sub.m is defined to be the temperature at which 50% of the paired
DNA strands have denatured into single strands. Intercalating dyes
that fluoresce when bound to double stranded DNA and lose their
fluorescence when denatured are often used in measuring T.sub.m.
Typically, the negative derivative of fluorescence with respect to
temperature (-dF/dT) has been used in the determination of T.sub.m.
In typical systems, the temperature at the peak -dF/dT is used as
an estimate of the melting temperature T.sub.m.
[0077] The -dF/dT derivative curve may be obtained using a
Savitsky-Golay (SG) derivative filter which is capable of
estimating the derivative of any signal. Savitsky-Golay filters are
low pass, Finite Impulse Response (FIR) derivative filters, and
their application to any dynamical signal is obtained through the
convolution of the FIR filter parameters with the raw signal. When
the spacing of the independent variable is uniform, the filtered
results can give first order and higher order derivatives of the
dependant variable relative to the independent variable equivalent.
The effect of such a filter is equivalent to a moving polynomial
fit, followed by the evaluation of the derivative of that
polynomial evaluated at the center of the window. Other methods for
obtaining the -dF/dT derivative curve may be found in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2009/0112484, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0078] The present invention relates to methods and systems for the
analysis of dynamic profiles of nucleic acids. These dynamic
profiles are data sets containing measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid relative to an
independent variable. One example of this physical change is the
dissociation behavior of nucleic acids. The analysis of the dynamic
profiles of nucleic acids of a particular genotype can assist in
the identification of nucleic acids and the identification of
particular genotypes. More specifically, the present invention
relates to methods and systems for determining the identity of the
genotype of a nucleic acid present in a biological sample through
analysis of dynamic profiles of an unknown genotype in a biological
sample.
[0079] As stated above, a dynamic profile contains measurements of
a signal representing a physical change of a nucleic acid relative
to an independent variable. This physical change may be, for
example, denaturation of a nucleic acid containing a particular
genotype. Such a dynamic profile may be, for instance, a molecular
melt curve or a thermal denaturation curve. The signal in such a
thermal denaturation curve for nucleic acids may be, for example,
measured thermal parameters, fluorescence of indicator
dyes/molecules, fluorescence polarization, dielectric properties,
or the like. A dynamic profile which is a molecular melt curve or a
thermal denaturation curve may be generated by melting curve
analysis.
[0080] Melting curve analysis is typically carried out either in a
stopped flow format or in a continuous flow format. In one example
of a stopped flow format, flow is stopped within a microchannel of
a microfluidic device while the temperature in that channel is
ramped through a range of temperatures required to generate the
desired melt curve. In an alternative stopped flow format, melting
curve analysis is done in a chamber to which the nucleic acid
sample has been added. In one example of a continuous flow format,
a melting curve analysis is performed by applying a temperature
gradient along the length (direction of flow) of a microchannel of
a microfluidic device. If the melting curve analysis requires that
the molecules being analyzed be subjected to a range of
temperatures extending from a first temperature to a second
temperature, the temperature at one end of the microchannel is
controlled to the first temperature, and the temperature at the
other end of the length is controlled to the second temperature,
thus creating a continuous temperature gradient spanning the
temperature range between the first and second selected
temperatures. An example of an instrument for performing a melting
curve analysis is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2007/0231799, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although the present invention is applicable to the analysis of
dynamic profiles obtained in any environment, it is particularly
useful for dynamic profiles obtained in the microfluidic
environment because of the need for greater sensitivity in this
environment.
[0081] In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, dynamic
profiles are generated by elevating the temperature of a molecule
or molecules, e.g., of one or more nucleic acids, for a selected
period of time and measuring a signal (i.e. a detectable property)
emanating from the molecule or molecules, wherein the signal
indicates an extent of denaturation of the nucleic acid. This
period of time can range, for example, from about 0.01 second
through to about 1.0 minute or more, from about 0.01 second to
about 10 seconds or more, or from about 0.1 second to about 1.0
second or more, including all time periods in between. In one
embodiment, heating comprises elevating the temperature of the
molecule or molecules by continuously increasing the temperature of
the molecule or molecules. For example, the temperature of the
molecule(s) can be continuously increased at a rate in the range of
about 0.1.degree. C./second to about 1.degree. C./second.
Alternatively, the temperature of the molecule(s) can be
continuously increased at a slower rate, such as a rate in the
range of about 0.01.degree. C./second to about 0.1.degree.
C./second, or at a faster rate, such as a rate in the range of
about 1.degree. C./second to about 10.degree. C./second. The
heating can occur through application of an internal or an external
heat source, as is known in the art.
[0082] The actual detection of one or more physical changes of the
molecules can be detected in numerous methods depending on the
specific molecules and reactions involved. For example, the
denaturation of the molecules can be tracked by following
fluorescence or emitted light from molecules in the assay. The
degree of, or change in, fluorescence is correlational or
proportional to the degree of change in conformation of the
molecules being assayed. Thus, in some methods, the detection of a
property of the molecule(s) comprises detecting a level of
fluorescence or emitted light from the molecules(s) that varies as
a function of relative amounts of binding. In one configuration,
the detecting of fluorescence involves a first molecule and a
second molecule, wherein the first molecule is a fluorescence
indicator dye or a fluorescence indicator molecule and the second
molecule is the target molecule to be assayed. In one embodiment,
the fluorescence indicator dye or fluorescence indicator molecule
binds or associates with the second molecule by binding to
hydrophobic or hydrophilic residues on the second molecule. The
methods of detecting optionally further comprise exciting the
fluorescence indicator dye or fluorescence indicator molecule to
create an excited fluorescence indicator dye or excited
fluorescence indicator molecule and discerning and measuring an
emission or quenching event of the excited fluorescence indicator
dye or fluorescence indicator molecule.
[0083] Dynamic profiles may be generated in a number of different
methods. In some methods, the generation of the dynamic profile
includes providing one molecule comprising a fluorescence indicator
dye or fluorescence indicator molecule, and at least a second
molecule comprising, one or more of an enzyme, a ligand, a peptide
nucleic acid, a cofactor, a receptor, a substrate, a protein, a
polypeptide, a nucleic acid (either double-stranded or
single-stranded), an antibody, an antigen, or an enzyme complex.
Fluorescence of the first molecule in the presence of the second
molecule as a function of temperature is measured and the resulting
data constitutes a dynamic profile. In other methods, the
generation of the dynamic profile comprises measuring a change in
the fluorescence of one molecule that is correlative or
proportional to a change in a physical property of another
molecule(s) due to a change in temperature. In still other methods,
the generation of a dynamic profile comprises measuring the change
in the total free energy of the system as a function of temperature
without the presence of a second molecule. Typically, the methods
also include generating a positive control profile of a control
sample, or a known dynamic profile of a known sample, in a similar
manner.
[0084] Several techniques exist for the measurement of the
denaturation of the molecules of interest, and any of these can be
used in generating the data to be analyzed in accordance with
aspects of the present invention. Such techniques include
fluorescence, fluorescence polarization, fluorescence resonance
energy transfer, circular dichroism and UV absorbance. Briefly, the
fluorescence techniques involve the use of spectroscopy to measure
changes in fluorescence or light to track the
denaturation/unfolding of the target molecule as the target
molecule is subjected to changes in temperature. Spectrometry, e.g.
via fluorescence, is a useful method of detecting thermally induced
denaturation/unfolding of molecules. Many different methods
involving fluorescence are available for detecting denaturation of
molecules (e.g. intrinsic fluorescence, numerous fluorescence
indicator dyes or molecules, fluorescence polarization,
fluorescence resonance energy transfer, etc.) and are optional
embodiments of the present invention. These methods can take
advantage of either internal fluorescent properties of target
molecules or external fluorescence, i.e. the fluorescence of
additional indicator molecules involved in the analysis.
[0085] A method of measuring the degree of denaturation/unfolding
of the target molecule is through monitoring of the fluorescence of
dyes or molecules added to the microfluidic device along with the
target molecule and any test molecules of interest. A fluorescence
dye or molecule refers to any fluorescent molecule or compound
(e.g., a fluorophore) which can bind to a target molecule either
once the target molecule is unfolded or denatured or before the
target molecule undergoes conformational change by, for example,
denaturing and which emits fluorescent energy or light after it is
excited by, for example, light of a specified wavelength.
[0086] One dye type used in the microfluidic devices is one that
intercalates within strands of nucleic acids. The classic example
of such a dye is ethidium bromide. An exemplary use of ethidium
bromide for binding assays includes, for example, monitoring for a
decrease in fluorescence emission from ethidium bromide due to
binding of test molecules to nucleic acid target molecules
(ethidium bromide displacement assay). See, e.g., Lee, M. et al. (J
Med Chem 36(7):863-870 (1993)). The use of nucleic acid
intercalating agents in measurement of denaturation is known to
those in the art. See, e.g., Haugland (Handbook of Fluorescent
Probes and Research Chemicals, Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene,
Oreg. (1996)).
[0087] Dyes that bind to nucleic acids by mechanisms other than
intercalation can also be employed in embodiments of the invention.
For example, dyes that bind the minor groove of double stranded DNA
can be used to monitor the molecular unfolding/denaturation of the
target molecule due to temperature. Examples of suitable minor
groove binding dyes are the SYBR Green family of dyes sold by
Molecular Probes Inc. (Eugene, Oreg., USA). See, e.g., Haugland
(Handbook of Fluorescent Probes and Research Chemicals, Molecular
Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg., USA (1996)). SYBR Green dyes will bind
to any double stranded DNA molecule. When a SYBR Green dye binds to
double stranded DNA, the intensity of the fluorescent emissions
increases. As more double stranded DNA are denatured due to
increasing temperature, the SYBR Green dye signal will decrease.
Another suitable dye is LCGreen Plus sold by Idaho Technology, Inc.
(Salt Lake City, Utah, USA).
[0088] Fluorescence polarization (FP) provides a useful method to
detect hybridization formation between molecules of interest. This
method is especially applicable to hybridization detection between
nucleic acids, for example, to monitor single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs). Generally, FP operates by monitoring, the
speed of rotation of fluorescent labels, such as fluorescent dyes
or molecular beacons, e.g. before, during, and/or after binding
events between molecules that comprise the test and target
molecules. In short, binding of a test molecule to the target
molecule ordinarily results in a decrease in the speed of rotation
of a bound label on one of the molecules, resulting in a change in
FP.
[0089] Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) can be used to
track the conformational changes of the target molecule (and
interactions with test molecules which can bind with the target
molecule) as a function of temperature. FRET relies on a
distance-dependent transfer of energy from a donor fluorophore to
an acceptor fluorophore. If an acceptor fluorophore is in close
proximity to an excited donor fluorophore, then the emission of the
donor fluorophore can be transferred to the acceptor fluorophore.
This causes a concomitant reduction in the emission intensity of
the donor fluorophore and an increase in the emission intensity of
the acceptor fluorophore. Since the efficiency of the excitation
transfer depends, inter alia, on the distance between the two
fluorophores, the technique can be used to measure extremely small
distances such as would occur when detecting changes in
conformation. This technique is particularly suited for measurement
of binding reactions, protein-protein interactions, e.g., such as a
protein of interest binding to an antibody and other biological
events altering the proximity of two labeled molecules. Many
appropriate interactive labels are known. For example, fluorescent
labels, dyes, enzymatic labels, and antibody labels are all
appropriate.
[0090] Circular dichroism (CD) can be used to follow the
conformational changes of the target molecules/text molecules as a
function of temperature and can be used to construct molecular melt
curves. CD is a type of light absorption spectroscopy which
measures the difference in absorbance by a molecule between
right-circularly polarized light and left-circularly polarized
light. CD is quite sensitive to the structure of polypeptides and
proteins.
[0091] UV absorbance can also be used to detect and/or track
denaturation of nucleic acid molecules, and/or to quantify the
total amount of nucleic acid. UV can be employed to measure the
extent of denaturation because the UV absorbance value of single
stranded nucleic acid molecules is greater than the absorbance
value of double stranded nucleic acid molecules.
[0092] An alternative method of measuring the degree of
denaturation/unfolding of the target molecule is through monitoring
of the current generated by a sample relative to the voltage
applied across the sample to generate a voltammetry curve. In some
methods, the generation of a voltammetry curve includes providing
one molecule comprising one or more of an enzyme, a ligand, a
peptide nucleic acid, a cofactor, a receptor, a substrate, a
protein, a polypeptide, a nucleic acid (either double-stranded or
single-stranded), an antibody, an antigen, or an enzyme complex. In
addition, at least one second molecule comprising a redox-active
molecule that preferentially binds to either a single-stranded
nucleic acid or a double-stranded nucleic acid is provided.
Generally, a probe molecule is provided which represents a
particular protein or nucleic acid of interest; the probe molecule
may be a ligand, a peptide nucleic acid, a substrate, a protein, a
polypeptide, a nucleic acid (either double-stranded or
single-stranded, and may be an oligonucleotide which is capable of
hybridizing to a specific sequence of interest), an antibody, an
antigen, or an enzyme complex. Preferably, the redox-active
molecule interacts with a double-stranded nucleic acid in such a
way that its oxidation or reduction potential is different than
when it does not interact with a double-stranded nucleic acid. Such
redox-active molecules often intercalate between Watson-Crick base
pairs of a nucleic acid or in the minor or major grooves of the
nucleic acid secondary structure, and thus do not interact with
single-stranded nucleic acids. Alternatively, the redox-active
molecule may bind preferentially to a sequence of interest. A
non-limiting example of such a redox-active molecule is a probe
molecule containing a sequence of interest to be interrogated and a
ferrocene label attached at a free end of the probe.
[0093] Application of an electric potential across a sample
containing such a redox-active molecule will generate an electric
current, which will vary with the application of different electric
potentials. By applying a range of electric potential across the
sample, various measurements of electric current generated may be
obtained in order to create a dynamic profile. For example, if the
first molecule has completely hybridized to the probe molecule, the
dynamic profile will differ from one generated if the first
molecule incompletely hybridizes to the probe molecule, or does not
hybridize at all. The dynamic profile may then be plotted as a
curve representing current versus voltage in order to generate a
voltammetry curve. The processes and flow charts described herein
for the dynamic profile in the case of high resolution thermal melt
would apply to the dynamic profile in the case of electrochemical
voltammetry.
[0094] The dynamic profile generated through these methods may be
plotted on any available medium used for plotting data to generate
a signature curve. Signature curves are useful because they allow a
person to visually match one dynamic profile to another, which may
allow a researcher to discriminate between different genotypes in a
biological sample. An initial signature curve may also be
mathematically modified or operated upon in order to generate a
second signature curve, which may allow a researcher to more easily
compare a signature curve representing an unknown genotype to one
representing a known genotype. A signature curve may be, for
instance, a thermal melt curve. Thermal melt curves are generally
plots of the negative derivative of fluorescence with respect to
temperature (-dF/dT), which are generated from thermal melt data.
Researchers may `visually` look at these curves in order to
distinguish between different genotypes based on the differences in
the appearance of their thermal melt curves, which represent
differences in the dynamic profiles between the two genotypes. This
visual inspection requires a high degree of user intervention in
the identification of a particular genotype, since a researcher
must match the signature curve generated from the dynamic profile
of the unknown genotype to a known signature curve generated from a
dynamic profile of a known genotype. Furthermore, subtle
differences in the shape of the curve may not be detected by human
inspection, and may lead to misidentification of the genotype.
[0095] Quantitative methods for analyzing the differences in
thermal melt curves of an unknown genotype also exist. One
quantitative method includes determining the temperature at the
peak -dF/dT. This temperature is used as an estimate of the melting
temperature of the nucleic acid T.sub.m. This estimate of the
T.sub.m of the nucleic acid may be used to classify the genotype of
the nucleic acid by comparing its value to a distribution of
melting temperatures for a known genotype. However, this method
also presents potential shortcomings. For example, this method uses
only one point of the entire thermal melt curve--the peak of the
derivative--in order to determine the genotype. This possibly
ignores the overall shape of the thermal melt curve, including the
width of the curve and the height of the peak, which may be useful
in determining the genotype of the sample. Further, two single
nucleotide polymorphisms may have differences in melting
temperature that are less than 0.5.degree. C. apart. In this case,
the resolution of the two thermal melt curves generated from data
obtained in a microfluidic device may be too low in order to allow
one to identify differences between the melting temperatures of the
two genotypes, and thus between the genotypes.
[0096] In an aspect of the invention, dynamic profiles generated by
the means outlined above may be converted to single
multi-dimensional data points. Each coordinate of the data point
may be a correlation coefficient between a dynamic profile and an
average normalized profile for each known genotype in the class of
known genotypes. Another aspect of the invention provides a method
for reducing the number of dimensions in the multi-variable data
points representing the dynamic profiles to reduced-dimensional
data points, and plotting the reduced dimensional data points.
Various embodiments of the invention will be described in greater
detail below, along with reference to the figures.
[0097] Each dynamic profile may include measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
known genotype relative to an independent variable as described
herein. As such, the dynamic profile is derived from the signal
measurements representing the physical change of the nucleic acid.
Multiple dynamic profiles for each known genotype of the class of
known genotypes may be generated. Multiple dynamic profiles may be
normalized so that they all have the same mean and standard
deviation. Each correlation vector may comprise correlation
coefficients for the dynamic profile against each average
normalized dynamic profile of each known genotype in the class of
known genotypes. That is, each of the individual dynamic curves
that make up a training set (as defined in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/759,415 and incorporated herein by reference) are
correlated against each of the average normalized profiles to yield
a correlation vector for each dynamic curve in the training set. In
a further embodiment, the transformed vectors belonging to the same
genotype may be grouped together into a stacked matrix, and a mean
data point (whereby each row of the matrix is averaged) and a
covariance matrix of the stacked matrix may be obtained.
[0098] In another embodiment, the method further includes the step
of translating each correlation vector into a reduced-dimensional
correlation vector. The transformation vector can be constructed in
such a way that when grouped by class, each of the elements are
normally distributed. To perform this transformation, a
transformation matrix can be used that is selected to result in a
normalized distribution by genotype.
[0099] FIGS. 1A-B illustrate a flow chart for method 100 for
analyzing a genotype in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. The method 100 may include a submethod for
generating multi-dimensional data points from dynamic profiles. One
non-limiting example of such a submethod is outlined as submethod
101 in FIG. 1A, which may include the steps delineated by the
dashed box. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
other methods for converting dynamic profiles to multi-dimensional
data points may exist, such as by determining certain key elements
of the dynamic profile and using them to generate data points
(e.g., for thermal melt curves, such key parameters could include
selecting the melting temperature and curve width of the
Savitsky-Golay derivative of the melting curve). Another such
non-limiting method is through analysis of the dynamic profiles
through principal component analysis.
[0100] Step 102 in submethod 101 may include generating a plurality
of dynamic profiles of a known genotype contained in a plurality of
biological samples. The dynamic profiles may be generated from data
generated in step 104. The data in step 104 may be generated by any
of the methods described above for generating data for dynamic
profiles or signature curves. The dynamic profiles each contain
measurements of a signal, y(t), which represents a physical change
of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype. These measurements
of the signal are recorded relative to an independent variable,
x(t). The parameter t may be any parameter over which both the
independent variable and the signal are measured. In the case that
the measurements in the dynamic profile are generated through
thermal melting of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype
with intercalating dyes, x(t) is the temperature T(t), and y(t) is
the fluorescence, F(t), or the derivative of the fluorescence
relative to temperature, -dF/dT. Alternatively, in the case that
the dynamic profile is generated through voltammetry of a nucleic
acid with a redox-active molecule, x(t) is the electric potential
V(t) and y(t) is the electric current I(t). As a non-limiting
example, a plot of several dynamic profiles for the three different
genotypes in the MTHFR 667 polymorphism is shown in the form of
fluorescence versus temperature curves in FIG. 2 and as the
derivative of the fluorescence relative to temperature in FIG.
3.
[0101] Step 106 of submethod 101 in FIG. 1A includes generating an
associated positive control dynamic profile of a control genotype.
The associated positive control dynamic profile may be generated at
the same time each of the plurality of dynamic profiles of the
known genotype is generated. Each positive control dynamic profile
of the positive control genotype may be also comprised of
measurements of the same signal relative to the same independent
variable as the dynamic profile for the known genotype, though the
measurements are taken from a positive control sample rather than
the sample containing the known genotype. The measurements of the
signal for the positive control genotype preferably are generated
concurrently in step 104 with the measurements of the signal for
the known genotype. This positive control dynamic profile may be
compared to a standard reference dynamic profile for the control
genotype. Alternatively, the independent variable of each of the
positive control dynamic profiles may be shifted by a shift value
.DELTA.x such that the positive control dynamic profiles match up,
and such that the mean of the shift values .DELTA.x for all
positive control dynamic profiles that are shifted is 0, as is
shown in step 108. In step 110 of submethod 101, the independent
variable of the dynamic profile associated with a positive control
dynamic profile is also shifted by the same shift value .DELTA.x as
the associated positive control dynamic profile. In order to shift
an independent variable in a positive control dynamic profile or
dynamic profile by the shift value .DELTA.x, .DELTA.x is subtracted
from or added to the independent variable in the positive control
dynamic profile or dynamic profile.
[0102] The dynamic profile may be normalized in order to have a
predetermined standard deviation, as is shown in step 112 of
submethod 101. Optimally, the shifted dynamic profile is
normalized. In some embodiments, the normalization procedure also
normalizes the dynamic profile in order to have both a
predetermined standard deviation and a predetermined average value.
The predetermined average value may be zero, and the predetermined
standard deviation may be 1. The normalized dynamic profile y'(x)
may be calculated as follows:
y ' ( x ) = y ( x ) - .mu. ( y ( x ) ) .sigma. ( y ( x ) )
##EQU00001##
wherein .mu.(y(x)) is the average value of the dynamic profile and
wherein .sigma.(y(x)) is the standard deviation of the dynamic
profile. As a non-limiting example, several shifted dynamic
profiles, in the form of -dF/dT versus temperature curves, are
shown for the three different genotypes in the MTHFR 667
polymorphism, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0103] Referring back to FIG. 1A, after shifting and normalizing
all dynamic profiles associated with a known genotype for each
genotype within the class of known genotypes, a set of normalized
and shifted dynamic profiles 114 is generated. In some embodiments,
these may be entered into data storage for use.
[0104] The dynamic profile may be averaged with other dynamic
profiles corresponding to the same known genotype in step 116 (see
FIG. 1B) of submethod 101. Averaging together several dynamic
profiles corresponding to the same known genotype generates an
averaged dynamic profile for a known genotype which contains
average measurements of the signal representing the physical change
of a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to the
independent variable.
[0105] To generate an average dynamic profile for a known genotype,
dynamic profiles for a known genotype may be averaged together. One
way to average the dynamic profiles together is to calculate the
mean value of the measurement of the signal for each different
value of the independent variable across all of the dynamic
profiles that are being averaged to make up the average profile for
the known genotype. In some embodiments, some outlying data sets
may be excluded at the discretion of an investigator. For example,
FIG. 5 shows the average profile for each known genotype in the
MTHFR 667 polymorphism class as the large, heavy lines among the
thinner lines.
[0106] In addition, an average positive control dynamic profile may
be generated in a similar manner by averaging together positive
control dynamic profiles representing the same positive control
genotype, as is shown in step 122 (see FIG. 1A). Preferably, the
dynamic profiles (or the positive control dynamic profiles) are
shifted and normalized, as described above, prior to averaging them
together to create an average normalized dynamic profile for the
known genotype or the positive control genotype.
[0107] As used herein, the class of genotypes may include every
genotype to which one would reasonably want to compare the unknown
genotype. In some embodiments, the class of genotypes will be those
genotypes associated with a particular polymorphism. For example,
for the coagulation factor MTHFR 677 single nucleotide
polymorphism, there are three possible genotypes associated with
the polymorphism: wild type (WT), heterozygous mutant (HE), and
homozygous mutant (HM). The class of genotypes in this case would
preferably include all three genotypes (WT, HE, and HM), though it
may include fewer, and it may include additional genotypes beyond
those associated with the particular polymorphism as well.
[0108] Referring back to FIG. 1A, in step 120 of submethod 101,
each known dynamic profile for the control genotype is normalized
to have a predetermined mean and standard deviation. In some
embodiments, this normalization procedure is identical to the
normalization procedure used for the dynamic profiles, discussed
above. In step 122, the positive control dynamic profiles are
averaged to generate a standard reference dynamic profile for the
control genotype. The standard reference dynamic profile may be
calculated in the same manner as the average dynamic profile for a
known genotype is calculated.
[0109] In step 126 of submethod 101, each dynamic profile of a
known genotype which has been used in calculating an average
dynamic profile for the known genotype is correlated against the
average dynamic profile for each known genotype in order to
generate a correlation vector r for that dynamic profile:
r = [ r 1 r 2 r Ng ] ##EQU00002##
wherein r.sub.1, r.sub.2, . . . , r.sub.Ng are correlation values
between the dynamic profile and each of the average dynamic
profiles for each known genotype in the class of known genotypes.
While r may be referred to herein as a correlation vector, it
should be appreciated that r is one example of a multi-dimensional
data point representing a dynamic profile. The correlation vector r
may be an [N.sub.g.times.1] matrix, wherein N.sub.g is the number
of genotypes that make up all of the possible mutations. Each
element of the correlation vector may be a correlation coefficient
of the dynamic profile against a different average dynamic profile
of a known genotype. The correlation coefficient of a dynamic
profile y.sub.1(x) against a second dynamic profile (or an average
normalized profile) y.sub.2(x) may be calculated as follows:
r ( y 1 , y 2 ) = i = 1 n [ ( y 1 ( i ) - .mu. y 1 ) ( y 2 ( i ) -
.mu. y 2 ) ] ( n - 1 ) .sigma. y 1 .sigma. y 2 ##EQU00003##
where n is the number of points that make up the dynamic profiles,
.mu..sub.y1 and .mu..sub.y2 are the means of their respective
profiles, and .sigma..sub.y1 and .sigma..sub.y2 are the respective
standard deviations of the profiles. In one embodiment, a
separation-maximizing independent variable is input in step 160
preferably using independent variable values contained within the
separation-maximizing range to calculate the correlation vector
generated in step 126. In one embodiment, the separation-maximizing
range may be calculated, for example, using the Enhanced
Monte-Carlo Method disclosed herein, or through maximization of the
ratio of the between-class scatter to within-class scatter, as
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415.
[0110] The correlation coefficient need not be an actual
correlation coefficient, but instead may be any value that
represents the degree of difference between two sets of data, or
two dynamic profiles. Such statistics include, but are not limited
to, the sum squared error between the dynamic profile and the
average dynamic profile, or the correlation coefficient between the
average dynamic profile and the dynamic profile.
[0111] For a given genotype, the correlation coefficients of the
various dynamic profiles against the average dynamic profile for a
known genotype may not be normally distributed, in that they do not
conform to a Gaussian distribution. For example, FIG. 6 shows that,
when plotted as data points in 3-dimensional space, the correlation
vectors in the training set for the MTHFR 667 polymorphism are not
normally distributed. One problem that may arise in this context is
that it may be difficult for an investigator to visually
distinguish between the data points representing differing
genotypes, and it may be difficult for an investigator to see a
degree of separation between the genotypes.
[0112] Referring to FIG. 1B, in step 128, the correlation vector r
may be transformed in order to normalize the distribution of the
correlation values, while also reducing the number of dimensions in
the correlation vector. FIG. 7 shows the distribution of
correlation coefficients of a group of dynamic profiles of the
MTHFR 667 WT, HE, and HM genotypes arranged such that the (1,1,1)
plane is normal to the line of the viewer. This figure shows that
by rotating to that particular viewpoint, the genotype clusters
become normally distributed and are divided by the visual
representations of the x, y, and z axes. To effectively reduce the
number of dimensions in this plot, one may transform the
three-dimensional correlation vectors (which are multi-dimensional
data points) into two-dimensional data points (which are
reduced-dimensional data points). By reducing the number of
dimensions to two in this embodiment, some information may be lost;
however, the correlation vectors become normally distributed and
are easily displayed to an investigator in a useful format.
[0113] In one embodiment, this transformation may be accomplished
by multiplying the correlation vector r by a transformation vector
T. If the correlation vector is an [N.sub.g.times.1] matrix, where
N.sub.g is the number of genotypes that make up all of the possible
mutations, T may be an [(N.sub.g-h).times.N.sub.g] matrix, where h
is the reduction in the number of dimensions of the correlation
vector.
[0114] A reduced-dimensional correlation vector v (which is one
example of a reduced-dimensional data point) may then be calculated
by multiplying T by the correlation vector r:
v=Tr
This results in a reduced-dimensional correlation vector v that has
the dimensions [(N.sub.g-h).times.1]. In one embodiment of the
invention, T may be derived in such a way as to maximize the ratio
of between-class scatter to within-class scatter in order to
maximize the separation between different genotypes and minimize
the separation between identical genotypes, thus allowing one
effectively to show the degree of separation between genotypes. For
example, FIG. 8 illustrates a two-dimensional graph showing
two-dimensional data points generated by transforming the
three-dimensional data points in FIGS. 6 and 7 through use of a
transformation matrix. In one embodiment, to derive the plot in
FIG. 8, the following transformation matrix T that projects each r
onto the plane x+y+z=0 may be used:
T = [ - 1 1 0 - 1 / 3 - 1 / 3 2 / 3 ] ##EQU00004##
Generally, T may be a 2.times.N.sub.g matrix, as two-dimensional
representations of the correlation vectors are easier to prepare.
However, it should be appreciated that T may also be a
3.times.N.sub.g matrix in order to permit a three-dimensional
representation of correlation vectors with four or more
elements.
[0115] Referring back to FIG. 1B, in step 132, the
reduced-dimensional correlation vectors may be plotted as
two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates on a graph. In one
embodiment, this graph may also display three axes at 60, 150, and
270 degrees, which represent the boundaries where correlation of
the dynamic profile represented by each data point is maximal
against the average profiles of the other known genotypes. For
example, FIG. 8 is a graph which shows reduced-dimensional
correlation vectors for the WT, HE, and HM genotypes of the MTHFR
667 single nucleotide polymorphism and the three axes separating
the three genotypes from each other. Such a graph visually
represents to a user the separation between the genotypes in the
class of known genotypes, as the user can visually see the extent
to which the clusters of points are separated from one another and
distinct in their placement on the graph.
[0116] Referring back to FIG. 1B, in an aspect of the present
invention, at least two reduced-dimensional correlation vectors for
a known genotype may be compiled into a parameter matrix V for the
known genotype, which is shown as step 134. Preferably, all
correlation vectors for a known genotype are compiled into the
parameter matrix for the known genotype, i.e. if N.sub.k dynamic
profiles of a particular k.sup.th genotype are averaged together to
generate the average dynamic profile for the particular genotype,
and each dynamic profile has a correlation vector associated with
it, then the parameter matrix V should include n correlation
vectors. This may be expressed mathematically as follows:
V.sub.k=.left brkt-bot.v.sub.1 v.sub.2 . . . v.sub.N.sub.l.right
brkt-bot.
where V.sub.k is the parameter matrix for the kth genotype in the
class of genotypes, and N.sub.l is the number of dynamic profiles
of the kth genotype used in generating the plot. In this
embodiment, the dimensions of V.sub.k are
[(N.sub.g-h).times.N.sub.l]. For this embodiment, each row is one
coordinate of the reduced-dimensional correlation vector, and each
column is a reduced-dimensional correlation vector for a dynamic
profile of a known genotype with reference to the average
normalized profile of each known genotype in the class of known
genotypes.
[0117] In another aspect of the present invention, the parameter
matrix V for a known genotype is used to generate a mean vector
.mu..sub.k for each known genotype, as is shown in step 136 in FIG.
1B. The elements of the mean vector .mu..sub.k include the averages
of each row of the parameter matrix V.sub.k for the kth genotype.
Further, in step 136, the covariance matrix C.sub.k of the
parameter matrix V.sub.k may be calculated for each known genotype.
The covariance matrix for the kth genotype, C.sub.k, may be a
square matrix whose elements are calculated as follows:
C k ( i , j ) = m = 1 N l [ ( V k ( i , m ) - .mu. k ( i ) ) ( V k
( j , m ) - .mu. k ( j ) ) ] N k - 1 ##EQU00005##
where N.sub.l is the number of dynamic profiles compiled to make up
the average profile of the k.sup.th genotype. In this embodiment,
C.sub.k is an [(N.sub.g-h).times.(N.sub.g-h)] matrix.
[0118] A further embodiment of the invention involves plotting an
n-ellipse around each cluster of reduced-dimensional data points or
reduced-dimensional correlation vectors in the plot, as is referred
to in step 142 of FIG. 1B. An n-ellipse is an ellipsoid in
n-space--e.g. a 2-ellipse will be an ellipse, while a 3-ellipse
will be an ellipsoid, a 4-ellipse will be a hyperellipsoid, etc.
Each n-ellipse represents the distribution of points for each
genotype, and is indicative of the probability that a particular
data point v will be classified as the genotype or the
class-conditional density p(v|g.sub.i). The class conditional
density for a particular data point may be calculated using the
following formula:
p ( v | g i ) = exp ( - 1 2 ( v - .mu. i ) T ( C i ) - 1 ( v - .mu.
i ) - d 2 log ( 2 .pi. ) - 1 2 log ( C i ) ) ##EQU00006##
wherein |C.sub.i| is the determinant of the covariance matrix, and
d is the number of dimensions of the covariance matrix (e.g., in
the case where the reduced-dimensional data points are
two-dimensional, the covariance matrix will be a [2.times.2]
matrix, and d will thus be 2). In a non-limiting example, FIG. 9
shows two-dimensional ellipses for the MTHFR 667 single-nucleotide
polymorphism that are appropriately scaled to encompass each
cluster of points for each genotype.
[0119] Referring back to FIG. 1B, the n-ellipses may be dimensioned
in steps 138 and 140 of FIG. 1B. In step 138, the eigenvalues and
eigenvectors of each covariance matrix for each genotype within the
class of genotypes is calculated. The axes of each n-ellipse are,
by definition, perpendicular to each other. The orientation of the
n-ellipse for the kth genotype, or its rotation angle relative to
the horizontal axis, may be determined by the eigenvectors of
C.sub.k. The magnitude of the corresponding eigenvalues of C.sub.k
may be the variance of the data along the eigenvector directions.
Thus, the lengths of the axes of the n-ellipse for a known genotype
may be calculated from the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix for
that known genotype scaled by a number of standard deviations of
the cluster of points a user wishes to cover in these
directions.
[0120] In one embodiment, the eigenvalues of C.sub.k may be
represented as .lamda..sub.1 and .lamda..sub.2, where
.lamda..sub.1.ltoreq..lamda..sub.2. The corresponding eigenvectors
are represented as s.sub.1 and s.sub.2. In the case where C.sub.k
is a [2.times.2] matrix, each eigenvector will have two components;
in the case where C.sub.k is a [3.times.3] matrix, each eigenvector
will have three components, and so on. In the two-dimensional case,
each eigenvector may have an x and a y component and may be
represented as the following vectors:
s 1 = [ s 1 x s 1 y ] , s 2 = [ s 2 x s 2 y ] ##EQU00007##
The rotation angle .theta..sub.k of the ellipse for the kth
genotype (which may be the angle the major axis of the n-ellipse
(in this case, an ellipse) makes with the horizontal) may be given
by the inverse tangent of the ratio of they component to the x
component of the eigenvector corresponding to the larger
eigenvalue:
.theta. k = tan - 1 ( s 2 y s 2 x ) ##EQU00008##
[0121] The eigenvalues .lamda..sub.1 and .lamda..sub.2 are the
variances of the cluster distribution along the minor and major
axes respectively of the ellipse. In order for a two-dimensional
ellipse to cover .+-.n standard deviations of the distribution of
the cluster of points for a particular genotype, half the length of
the major axis l.sub.M may be calculated from the following
formula:
l M 2 = n .lamda. 2 ##EQU00009##
and the half-length of the minor axis l.sub.m may be calculated
from the smaller eigenvalue .lamda..sub.1:
l m 2 = n .lamda. 1 ##EQU00010##
[0122] Referring back to FIG. 1B, in one embodiment, a user may be
able to input the number of standard deviations for the n-ellipse
to cover in step 144. For example, FIG. 10 shows the ellipses for
each genotype of the MTHFR 667 single-nucleotide polymorphism with
representations of the properly calculated rotation angles and
major/minor axis widths to cover three standard deviations of each
individual cluster. However, in one embodiment, the user may not
input the number of standard deviations for the ellipse to cover,
but instead may input the percentage of the number of points the
user wishes the n-ellipse to cover. For a normally distributed
cluster of points, the percentage of points covered by an ellipse
will bear a functional relationship to a scaling factor times the
number of standard deviations covered by the ellipse. By the user
choosing a percentage of points to be covered by the ellipse, the
scaling factor n for the ellipse can be calculated, and thus the
ellipse can cover a predetermined percentage of the points in the
cluster. FIG. 11 shows the functional relationship between the
number of standard deviations covered by the ellipse and the
percentage of normally distributed points that are covered in the
two-dimensional case.
[0123] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of determining the identity of the genotype of an unknown nucleic
acid (also referred to as unknown genotype) present in a biological
sample. In accordance with one embodiment, an unknown genotype is
determined by using the following steps: using the computer to
convert a dynamic profile of an unknown genotype of a nucleic acid
to a multi-dimensional data point representing the unknown
genotype, using the computer to transform the multi-dimensional
data point representing the unknown genotype into a
reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype,
plotting the reduced-dimensional data point representing the
unknown genotype on the plot; and identifying the unknown
genotype.
[0124] FIGS. 1A-B also illustrates this embodiment of the
invention. In step 146, a dynamic profile y(x) of an unknown
genotype contained in a biological sample is generated. The dynamic
profile may be generated by any of the methods described herein.
The dynamic profile contains measurements of a signal, y(t), which
represents a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the known
genotype. These measurements of the signal are recorded relative to
an independent variable, x(t). These measurements are input into
the method in step 148. Depending on how the dynamic profile is
generated, y(t) and x(t) may be different physical quantities. For
example, in the embodiment where the dynamic profile is generated
through thermal melting of a nucleic acid containing the known
genotype with intercalating dyes, x(t) is the temperature T(t), and
y(t) is the fluorescence, F(t), or the derivative of the
fluorescence relative to temperature, -dF/dT. In the embodiment
where the dynamic profile is generated through voltammetry of a
nucleic acid with a redox-active molecule, x(t) is the electric
potential V(t) and y(t) is the electric current I(t).
[0125] In step 150, an associated positive control dynamic profile
of a control genotype is also generated at the same time the
dynamic profile of the unknown genotype is generated. The
associated positive control dynamic profile of the positive control
genotype is also comprised of measurements of the same signal
relative to the same independent variable as the dynamic profile,
though the measurements are taken from a positive control sample
rather than the sample containing the unknown genotype. In step
152, the positive control dynamic profile is compared to a standard
reference dynamic profile for the control genotype. This is done to
generate a shift value .DELTA.x for the independent variable, and
this step is performed in the same manner as was done when
determining the shift value .DELTA.x in step 108. The standard
reference dynamic profile of the positive control genotype may be
the standard reference dynamic profile generated in step 122.
[0126] In order to generate the shift value .DELTA.x as well as a
scaling factor .alpha., the independent variable in a positive
control profile y.sub.p(x) or dynamic profile is shifted by the
shift value .DELTA.x to generate a shifted profile y.sub.p'(x):
y.sub.p'(x)=.alpha.*y.sub.p(x-.DELTA.x)
Each of the shifted positive control profiles y.sub.p'(x) are then
correlated to the known positive control profile y.sub.rs(x) to
generate a correlation coefficient r. The correlation coefficient
of a dynamic profile y.sub.1(x) against y.sub.2(x) may be
calculated as described above.
[0127] In step 154, the independent variable in the dynamic profile
of the unknown genotype is shifted by the shift value .DELTA.x. The
dynamic profile for the unknown genotype may also be scaled by the
scaling factor .alpha.. All dynamic profiles taken from the same
experiment that is associated with a positive control may be
shifted and scaled by the same amount, i.e. if more than one
dynamic profile of an unknown genotype is generated in a single
experiment, only one positive control dynamic profile need be
generated, and only one shift value .DELTA.x need be determined.
This shifting and scaling procedure minimizes the variability in
the independent variable from one experiment to the next, in order
to make sure that results are consistent and reproducible.
[0128] In step 156, the dynamic profile of the unknown genotype is
normalized to have a predetermined standard deviation. It is also
possible to normalize the dynamic profile of the unknown genotype
to have a predetermined mean and a predetermined standard
deviation. In one embodiment, the dynamic profile of the unknown
genotype is normalized to have the same predetermined standard
deviation and/or mean as the dynamic profiles of the known
genotypes used to generate any average profiles for known genotypes
to which the dynamic profile for the unknown genotype will be
compared.
[0129] In step 158, the dynamic profile is correlated to each one
of the average dynamic profiles for each known genotype in the
class of genotypes generated in 116 in order to obtain correlation
values for each known genotype. In some embodiments, this
correlation value may be the average sum squared error between the
dynamic profile for the unknown genotype and the average dynamic
profile for the known genotype, the correlation coefficient between
the dynamic profile for the unknown genotype and the average
dynamic profile for the known genotype, or a posterior probability
that the unknown genotype is the genotype represented in an average
dynamic profile for a known genotype. The correlation coefficient
and the sum squared error may be calculated in a manner identical
to that used for calculating correlation coefficients and sum
squared error in the method of generating the training set. In
order to maximize the separation between genotypes, a
separation-maximizing independent variable range may be input in
step 160. This separation-maximizing range may be calculated using,
for example, the Enhanced Monte-Carlo Method disclosed later in
this application, or through maximization of the ratio of the
between-class scatter to within-class scatter, as disclosed in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415.
[0130] Mathematically, the correlation value of the dynamic profile
containing the unknown genotype against the average dynamic profile
for the known genotype that generates the largest value should
indicate that the unknown genotype is that known genotype.
Likewise, the average dynamic profile for a known genotype that
generates the lowest average sum squared error between the dynamic
profile for the unknown genotype and the average dynamic profile
for the known genotype should indicate that the unknown genotype is
that known genotype.
[0131] However, investigators may desire a visual, rather than
solely quantitative, representation of a genotype call. In one
embodiment of the invention, a correlation vector r is calculated
for the unknown genotype. In one embodiment, the correlation vector
r is a vector with dimensions [N.sub.g.times.1] that includes in
its elements a correlation coefficient between the dynamic profile
of the unknown genotype and each of the average dynamic profiles of
a known genotype within the class of genotypes as generated in 158.
Alternatively, the correlation coefficients may be the average sum
squared error between the dynamic profile of the unknown genotype
and the average dynamic profile of each known genotype within the
class of genotypes.
[0132] The correlation vector r may then be transformed into a
reduced-dimensional correlation vector in step 130 using a
transformation matrix, in a manner substantially identical to
transforming the correlation vectors for the known genotypes in
128. The correlation vector for the unknown genotype may then be
plotted on the same plot generated in step 132. An investigator can
then identify the genotype to which the unknown reduced-dimensional
correlation vector corresponds either by determining that it falls
in the sector demarcated by the axes on the plot that corresponds
to a particular genotype (see FIG. 8), or by determining that the
unknown reduced-dimensional correlation vector falls within one of
the ellipses generated on the plot (see FIG. 9).
[0133] In another aspect of the invention, a system and method for
calculating an error statistic for an assay is provided. While the
method for plotting the clusters of genotypes provides one way in
which an investigator may qualitatively examine the separation
between various genotype clusters and their dynamic profiles, it is
useful to have some quantification of the actual overall
misclassification rate for an assay, as well as misclassification
rates for each individual genotype in a class of genotypes, as well
as the probability that a sample containing one genotype will be
misclassified as each of the other incorrect genotypes.
[0134] A method for calculating an error statistic is described in
FIGS. 12A-C in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. Method 1200 of FIGS. 12A-B may include a method
by which dynamic profiles are converted to data points. In one
embodiment, this step is a submethod, which is shown as submethod
1201, that may incorporate the steps shown as surrounded by the
dashed box in FIG. 12A-B. One of ordinary skill in the art, of
course, will appreciate that this is a non-limiting example of such
a method, and various other methods exist for generating data
points from dynamic profiles. Other non-limiting examples of such
methods include selecting certain values from the dynamic profile
(such as melting temperature, enthalpy of melting, and peak
fluorescence) as the elements of a data point, or through principle
component analysis, or other statistical methods.
[0135] Steps 102 through 126 of FIG. 12A are similar to steps 102
through 126 described above in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B, and
thus are identified with the same numbers. In step 102 of submethod
1201, dynamic profiles of each known genotype are generated by
inputting signals from multiple samples of each known genotype in a
class of known genotypes in order to generate dynamic profiles of
each known genotype from an assay. Along with each dynamic profile,
a positive control profile of the known genotype is generated in
step 106. The independent variable of each dynamic profile is
shifted by a shift value generated for that run in step 110; that
shift value is generated in step 108. The dynamic profiles of the
known genotypes are then normalized in step 112 such that they have
a predetermined standard deviation and mean value, and are then
grouped together by genotype and averaged in step 116 to generate
an average profile for each known genotype. In step 126, each
dynamic profile is then correlated to each of the average profiles
for the known genotypes in the class of known genotypes in order to
generate a correlation vector r (which may be a data point) for
each dynamic profile. The elements of the correlation vectors may
be correlation values of the dynamic profile against each average
profile of a known genotype within the class of genotypes. Again,
this correlation value may be the average sum squared error between
the dynamic profile for the unknown genotype and the average
dynamic profile for the known genotype, the correlation coefficient
between the dynamic profile for the unknown genotype and the
average dynamic profile for the known genotype, or a posterior
probability that the unknown genotype is the genotype represented
in an average dynamic profile for a known genotype. Correlation
coefficients are preferred, and the method of calculating such a
correlation coefficient is disclosed earlier in this
application.
[0136] The correlation vectors r generated in step 126 of submethod
1201 are not normally distributed, within their respective
genotypes. In order to obtain a normal distribution, one may
transform the correlation vectors r into transformed correlation
vectors v by translating the elements of each correlation vector r
into n-spherical coordinates, which causes the elements of the
correlation vector to fall within a normal (or Gaussian)
distribution, as is shown in step 1202. In a non-limiting example,
FIG. 13 shows the set of correlation vectors for the wild-type,
heterozygous, and homozygous mutant populations of the MTHFR 667
class of genotypes, after translation to spherical coordinates, and
also the normal distribution of those points.
[0137] For a class of genotypes with three possible genotypes
(e.g., wild-type (WT), heterozygous (HE), and homozygous mutant
(HM)) the elements of the transformed correlation vector v may be
calculated from the elements of the correlation vector r as
follows:
r = [ r wt r he r hm ] ##EQU00011## l = r wt 2 + r he 2 + r hm 2
##EQU00011.2## a 1 = tan - 1 ( r he r wt ) ##EQU00011.3## a 2 = tan
- 1 ( r hm ( r wt ) 2 + ( r he ) 2 ) ##EQU00011.4## Transformed
vector v = [ l a 1 a 2 ] ##EQU00011.5##
wherein r.sub.wt is the correlation vector of the dynamic profile
against the average profile for the wild-type genotype, r.sub.he is
the correlation vector of the dynamic profile against the average
profile for the heterozygous genotype, and r.sub.hm, is the
correlation vector of the dynamic profile against the average
profile for the homozygous mutant genotype. In some embodiments, if
the number of possible genotypes or dimensions N.sub.g is greater
than 3, this transformation can be extended as follows:
l = r 1 2 + r 2 2 + r 3 2 + r 4 2 ##EQU00012## a 1 = tan - 1 ( r 2
r 1 ) ##EQU00012.2## a 2 = tan - 1 ( r 3 ( r 1 ) 2 + ( r 2 ) 2 )
##EQU00012.3## a 3 = tan - 1 ( r 4 ( r 1 ) 2 + ( r 2 ) 2 + ( r 3 )
2 ) ##EQU00012.4## Transformed vector : v = [ l a 1 a 2 a 3 ]
##EQU00012.5##
where r.sub.1, r.sub.2, r.sub.3 and r.sub.4 are the correlation
coefficients of the dynamic profile against the average normalized
value for the first, second, third, and fourth genotypes,
respectively. This pattern can be extended further for other
embodiments in which N.sub.g is greater than 4.
[0138] The transformed correlation vectors v may then be compiled
into the parameter matrix for the known genotype in step 1204. In
one embodiment, all correlation vectors for a known genotype are
compiled into the parameter matrix for the known genotype, i.e. if
N.sub.k dynamic profiles of a particular k.sup.th genotype are
averaged together to generate the average dynamic profile for the
particular genotype, and each dynamic profile has a correlation
vector associated with it, then the parameter matrix V should
include n correlation vectors. This may be expressed mathematically
as follows:
V.sub.k=.left brkt-bot.v.sub.1 v.sub.2 . . . v.sub.N.sub.l.right
brkt-bot.
where V.sub.k is the parameter matrix for the kth genotype in the
class of genotypes, and N.sub.l is the number of dynamic profiles
of the kth genotype used in generating the plot. In this
embodiment, the dimensions of V.sub.k are [N.sub.g.times.N.sub.l],
where N.sub.g is the number of genotypes in the class of known
genotypes. For this embodiment, each row is one coordinate of the
transformed correlation vector across all the correlation vectors,
and each column is a transformed correlation vector for a dynamic
profile of a known genotype.
[0139] In another aspect of the present invention, the parameter
matrix V.sub.k for a known genotype is used to generate a data
point or vector .mu..sub.k for each known genotype, as is shown in
step 1206 in FIG. 12B. The elements of the mean vector or data
point .mu..sub.k may include the averages of each row of the
parameter matrix V.sub.k for the kth genotype. Further, in step
1208, the covariance matrix C.sub.k of the parameter matrix V.sub.k
may be calculated for each known genotype. The covariance matrix
for the kth genotype, C.sub.k, is a square matrix whose elements
are calculated as follows:
C k ( i , j ) = m = 1 N l [ ( V k ( i , m ) - .mu. k ( i ) ) ( V k
( j , m ) - .mu. k ( j ) ) ] N k - 1 ##EQU00013##
where N.sub.l is the number of dynamic profiles compiled to make up
the average profile of the k.sup.th genotype. In this embodiment,
C.sub.k may be an [N.sub.g.times.N.sub.g] matrix.
[0140] Using the covariance matrix, it is possible to calculate the
class conditional density p(v|g.sub.i), which represents the
probability that correlating a dynamic profile of a first known
genotype to an average normalized dynamic profile for a first known
genotype would generate the transformed correlation vector v. The
class conditional probability that a known genotype g.sub.i would
generate the correlation vector v may be calculated from the mean
vector .mu..sub.i and the covariance matrix C.sub.i for that known
genotype by using the following formula:
p ( v | g i ) = exp ( - 1 2 ( v - .mu. i ) T ( C i ) - 1 ( v - .mu.
i ) - N g 2 log ( 2 .pi. ) - 1 2 log ( C i ) ) ##EQU00014##
wherein |C.sub.i| is the determinant of the covariance matrix, and
N.sub.g is the number of genotypes that make up all of the possible
mutations.
[0141] If the occurrence of each possible genotype in the class of
genotypes were equally likely in the population, then the unknown
genotype could be identified as the genotype with the largest
class-conditional density with a great degree of confidence. Using
the frequency of the known genotypes in the population, it is
possible to calculate a posterior probability that a particular
dynamic profile corresponds to a known genotype. The user may input
the frequency of the known genotype P(g.sub.i) into the algorithm,
and Bayes's Theorem, for example, may be used to calculate the
posterior probability p(g.sub.i|v) that the unknown sample is the
known genotype:
p ( g i | v ) = P ( g i ) p ( v | g i ) i = 1 Ng ( P ( g i ) p ( v
| g i ) ) ##EQU00015##
[0142] For example, a data point v.sub.WT1 representing a wild-type
dynamic profile may generate the following posterior probability
values based on a set of points for the wild-type genotype:
TABLE-US-00001 p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.WT1) = 0.995 p(g.sub.HE |
v.sub.WT1) = 0.003 p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.WT1) = 0.002
Based on the set of wild-type points, 99.5% of the time, the sample
represented by the dynamic profile that generated this data point
should be identified as a wild-type curve, identified as
heterozygous 0.3% of the time, and identified as homozygous mutant
0.2% of the time.
[0143] If another data point v.sub.WT2 representing a wild-type
dynamic profile generated the following posterior probability
values based on a set of points for the wild-type genotype:
TABLE-US-00002 p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.WT2) = 0.997 p(g.sub.HE |
v.sub.WT2) = 0.002 p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.WT2) = 0.001
then 99.7% of the times this dynamic profile was obtained, the
sample represented by the dynamic profile that generated this data
point would be identified as a wild-type curve, identified as
heterozygous 0.2% of the time, and identified as homozygous mutant
0.1% of the time.
[0144] By repeatedly sampling points representing dynamic profiles
of the wild-type genotype, and calculating the posterior
probabilities for those points so that they may represent each of
the possible genotypes, one may generate expected posterior
probability values that a point representing a wild-type genotype
will be identified as each of the possible known genotypes, as set
forth in step 1214 of FIG. 12C. These expected posterior
probability values are the average of the posterior probabilities
for each point in the data set. By repeating the same process for
each other known genotype, one may generate a probability cross
table, as shown in Table 1:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Probability Cross table Called Genotype
(columns) Known Genotype (rows) Wildtype Heterozygous Homozygous
Wildtype p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.WT) p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.HE) p(g.sub.WT |
v.sub.HM) Heterozygous p(g.sub.HE | v.sub.WT) p(g.sub.HE |
v.sub.HE) p(g.sub.HE | v.sub.HM) Homozygous p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.WT)
p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.HE) p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.HM)
[0145] Ideally, the diagonal elements of the probability cross
table should have values of one, and the off-diagonal elements of
the probability cross table should have values of zero, as this
would mean there was no possibility of any single dynamic profile
representing a genotype being misidentified as another
genotype.
[0146] Using the off-diagonal elements of the cross-probability
table, it is possible to calculate an expected misclassification
rate for each genotype, as set forth in step 1218:
e.sub.WT= p(g.sub.WT|v.sub.HE)+ p(g.sub.WT|v.sub.HM)
e.sub.HE= p(g.sub.HE|v.sub.WT)+ p(g.sub.HE|v.sub.HM)
e.sub.HM= p(g.sub.HM|v.sub.WT)+ p(g.sub.HM|v.sub.HE)
If all of the points used to calculate the expected
misclassification rates for each genotype are generated in the same
assay, having nearly identical assay parameters, it is possible to
generate an overall misclassification rate for the assay by summing
the expected misclassification rate for each possible genotype in
step 1220 by inputting the population frequencies 1216 and
calculating the overall misclassification rate through the
following formula:
e=P.sub.WTe.sub.WT+P.sub.HEe.sub.HE+P.sub.HMe.sub.HM
wherein P.sub.WT, P.sub.HE, and P.sub.HM are the probabilities of
the wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous genotypes in the
overall population.
[0147] One of ordinary skill will appreciate that this calculation
for an overall misclassification rate can be carried out for assays
for nucleic acids that may potentially have more or fewer than
three possible genotypes. In a four-genotype case, for example, the
probability cross table would have four rows and four columns, and
the expected misclassification rate for each genotype would be the
sum of the three off-diagonal elements of the probability
cross-table for each genotype.
[0148] In accordance with one embodiment, an error statistic for
the assay may be calculated through this method. In one embodiment,
the error statistic may be the posterior probability that a dynamic
profile representing a known genotype will be identified as any one
of the possible known genotypes. In an alternate embodiment, the
error statistic may be the expected misclassification rate for a
particular genotype. In yet another alternate embodiment, the error
statistic may be the overall misclassification rate for the
assay.
[0149] It is important to note that the greater number of data
points used in calculating the posterior probabilities in the
probability cross table, the more accurate the elements of the
probability cross table will be, and thus the more accurate the
expected misclassification rates and overall expected
misclassification rate will be. The sampled points for a particular
genotype can be obtained from the dynamic profiles used to generate
the average dynamic profiles of the known genotype. For example,
one can calculate the posterior probabilities in the first row of
Table 1 ( p(g.sub.WT|v.sub.WT), p(g.sub.WT|v.sub.HE), and
p(g.sub.WT|v.sub.HM)) by calculating posterior probabilities for
each wild-type data point using the covariance matrix and mean data
point for each of the other two genotypes. In this case, however,
the accuracy of the posterior probabilities is limited by the
number of wild-type data points available. Since one run of an
assay on a biological sample containing the wild-type genotype may
only generate one point for the wild-type genotype, the accuracy of
the misclassification rates for the assay, the accuracy of an error
statistic may be limited by the number of runs.
[0150] It is possible, however, to estimate a more accurate
misclassification rate through use of an enhanced Monte Carlo
simulation. One embodiment of the invention comprises using this
enhanced Monte Carlo simulation to generate an error statistic for
an assay. Monte Carlo simulations, in general, are a class of
computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to
compute their results. In an embodiment of the present invention, N
random points may be generated such that the random points have a
mean data point and covariance matrix identical to one of the known
genotypes. Because these N simulated random points have the same
distribution as the points generated experimentally, they can be
used to further refine the error statistic for the assay.
[0151] For example, referring back to FIG. 12C, in step 1212,
N.sub.R random vectors/data points may be generated for each known
genotype. In one embodiment, the N.sub.R random points for a known
genotype can be generated in the following manner. First, the
covariance matrix C.sub.i for the known genotype may be reduced to
a Cholesky factorization L.sub.i in step 1210. If the covariance
matrix C.sub.i is an [N.sub.g.times.N.sub.g] matrix, the Cholesky
factorization L is an [N.sub.g.times.N.sub.g] lower-triangular
matrix defined by the following equation:
LL.sup.T=C.sub.i
In the case where there are three genotypes, L is a [3.times.3]
matrix with the following elements:
L = [ L 1 , 1 0 0 L 2 , 1 L 2 , 2 0 L 3 , 1 L 3 , 2 L 3 , 3 ]
##EQU00016##
In one embodiment, the elements L.sub.a,b of the Cholesky
factorization L may be calculated from any symmetric,
positive-definite matrix D with elements D.sub.a,b by using a
nested loop using the following two equations:
L a , b = 1 L b , b ( D a , b - k = 1 b - 1 L a , k L b , k )
##EQU00017##
(for a>b, where a is the row and b is the column)
L a , a = D a , a - k = 1 a - 1 L a , k 2 ##EQU00018##
[0152] In one embodiment, to generate N.sub.R random data points
with the same mean data point .mu..sub.i and covariance matrix
C.sub.i as the ith genotype, one may repeatedly calculate random
data points using the following equation:
v.sub.i,j=L.sub.i*randn(N.sub.g,1)+.mu..sub.i
For each ith genotype, j can go from 1 to N.sub.R number of times
to create any N.sub.R data points that have the same distribution
as the genotype cluster for the ith genotype. The function
randn(N.sub.g,1) generates an [3.times.1] data point or vector
whereby, when sampled multiple times, each element has a mean of
zero and standard deviation of 1. L.sub.i is the Cholesky
factorization of the covariance matrix for the ith genotype
C.sub.i. Multiplying the random vector times the Cholesky
factorization L.sub.i results in a distribution of points with the
same covariance matrix as the set of points for the ith genotype,
while adding the mean data point or vector .mu..sub.i results in
that distribution of randomly generated points being centered
around the mean data point as the data points representing the
experimental runs for the ith genotype. Thus, the set of data
points generated has the same mean position as the cluster of
points generated experimentally.
[0153] By repeating this process for each genotype in the class of
known genotypes, it is possible to generate a set of N.sub.R random
data points for each known genotype. These N.sub.R data points can
be used to achieve a more accurate expected probability cross
table, expected misclassification rate, and overall
misclassification rate than merely using experimentally obtained
data points alone. These values, of course, are calculated either
by using the N.sub.R random data points alone for each genotype to
generate the probability cross table of Table 1, or by calculating
the values in the probability cross table using the N.sub.R
randomly generated data points for each genotype in combination
with the experimentally generated data points for each genotype.
The procedure described by this invention may allow an investigator
to quantify the degree of overlap or separation between any two
genotype clusters of data points into a theoretical expected
misclassification rate.
[0154] By generating these error statistics, an investigator is
able to determine the level of confidence possible for a "call" of
a particular genotype from a genotyping analysis system without
using a predetermined "no-call" threshold. This is known as
"forcing a call." However, using the enhanced Monte Carlo technique
for generating N.sub.R random data points as described herein, it
is further possible to evaluate the effect of including a "no-call"
posterior probability threshold (i.e., if the largest posterior
probability for a data point representing a dynamic profile is less
than the no-call threshold, it would be classified as a "no call")
on various error statistics in the system. In one embodiment, using
the methods and systems described in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/759,415 to identify an unknown genotype, after generating a
dynamic profile for a sample containing an unknown genotype and
reducing that dynamic profile to a data point or vector, the
posterior probability that the sample contains each one of the
possible known genotypes can be calculated using the methods for
calculating the posterior probabilities disclosed therein. If none
of the posterior probabilities is greater than a threshold value,
no call is made. If the posterior probability is greater than the
threshold value, then the unknown genotype may be "called" as the
known genotype.
[0155] Including such a "no-call threshold" may actually affect the
overall misclassification rate of the system. In one non-limiting
example, two data points v.sub.WT1 and V.sub.WT2 generate the
following posterior probabilities relative to the wild-type (WT),
heterozygous (HE), and homozygous genotypes:
TABLE-US-00004 p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.WT1) = 0.995 p(g.sub.HE |
v.sub.WT1) = 0.003 p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.WT1) = 0.002 p(g.sub.WT |
v.sub.WT2) = 0.997 p(g.sub.HE | v.sub.WT2) = 0.002 p(g.sub.HM |
v.sub.WT2) = 0.001
In the case where a no-call threshold was set at 99.6%, a call
would be made on v.sub.WT1 but not V.sub.WT2. The effect of making
this "call" is to set the posterior probability for each of the
genotypes to zero and to generate a new posterior probability,
p(NC|v.sub.WT1), which represents the probability of a no-call
situation. In this case, the posterior probabilities for the two
points have the following values:
TABLE-US-00005 p(g.sub.WT | v.sub.WT1) = 0 p(g.sub.HE | v.sub.WT1)
= 0 p(g.sub.HM | v.sub.WT1) = 0 p(NC | v.sub.WT1) = 1 p(g.sub.WT |
v.sub.WT2) = 0.997 p(g.sub.HE | v.sub.WT2) = 0.002 p(g.sub.HM |
v.sub.WT2) = 0.001 p(NC | v.sub.WT2) = 0
In calculating the expected posterior probabilities for the
probability-cross table, "no-call" points are ignored and only
points that generate a posterior probability above the no-call
threshold are used. This has the effect of increasing the expected
posterior probabilities that the genotype will be called correctly,
but also has the concomitant effect of reducing the number of data
points used in calculating the expected posterior probability,
expected misclassification rate for a genotype, or overall
misclassification rate. By generating additional data points with
the same mean data point and covariance matrix for a known genotype
as generated in step 1212, for example, it is possible to estimate
these error statistics after a change in the no-call threshold,
without reducing the number of data points used in determining the
overall misclassification rate.
[0156] In one aspect of the present invention, the plotting method
disclosed herein may be used to plot the data points generated from
the dynamic profiles along with receiving the output error
statistic. Combining these two methods allows an user to both
visualize the qualitative separation between the genotypes by
viewing the data points associated with the genotypes, and by
receiving a quantification of the separation between the genotypes
in the form of an error statistic.
[0157] One useful aspect of calculating error statistics for
assays, such as expected posterior probabilities, expected
misclassification rate for a genotype, or overall expected
misclassification rate for an assay, is being able to compare the
quality of two different assays. Several assay parameters,
including assay reagents responsible for the amplification of DNA
segments that include the mutations of interest, the sensing and
control instrumentation (along with the conditions under which they
operate), the process by which raw data and dynamic profiles are
collected (e.g., imaging systems to monitor fluorescence,
temperature sensing, and control systems for collecting thermal
melt data), and software (including algorithms embodied in said
software) used to identify a genotype can all introduce different
errors and/or reduce other errors. However, using current methods,
one must collect data through repeated runs of an assay in order to
calculate an error statistic. Even then, the quality of the error
statistic is limited by the number of runs one has conducted on the
assay. As such, provided herein is a method and system for
comparing two assays that allows one to reduce the number of runs
one needs to perform in order to estimate an error statistic for an
assay.
[0158] FIGS. 12A-C further illustrate this embodiment of the
invention. In this method, either prior to, concurrent to, or after
generating the error statistics for an assay (i.e., a first assay),
the process may be repeated for a second assay in order to generate
error statistics for the second assay in step 1222 by inputting
signals from a second assay from multiple samples of known
genotypes relative to an independent variable, along with the
appropriate signal of a control genotype in step 1226. The error
statistics for the first and second assays may then be compared,
and the assay with the lower error statistic may be selected as
optimal over the other assay in step 1224. The first and second
assay may differ in at least one assay parameter or component. Such
assay parameters or components may include, for example, reaction
components (including assay reagents, DNA primers responsible for
the amplification of DNA segments that include the mutations of
interest, etc.), assay equipment (e.g., sensing and control
instrumentation, along with the conditions under which they
operate, reaction vessels, etc.), the measured independent and
dependent variable (i.e. fluorescence versus temperature, voltage
versus current/resistance, etc.), software (including algorithms
embodied in said software).
[0159] One assay parameter that may be altered between assays is
the independent variable range over which dynamic profile data may
be collected. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/759,415, a
method for determining a separation maximizing range for the
independent variable is disclosed; this method involves calculating
the ratio of the determinants of a between-class scatter matrix for
a class of genotypes and the within-class scatter matrix of the
known genotypes to generate a separation ratio q for a particular
x.sub.min and x.sub.max. The separation ratio q is then calculated
and recorded for that x.sub.min and x.sub.max. This step is then
automated for a wide variety of different x.sub.min and x.sub.max,
the value of x.sub.min and x.sub.max that results in the maximum
value of q is then selected as the separation-maximizing range of
independent variable values.
[0160] The present invention provides an alternate method of
achieving the same goal. FIGS. 14A-C illustrate screen shots of an
implementation of the disclosed method and system in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14A illustrates
an analysis 1400 of a first assay, in which dynamic profiles (which
are thermal melt curves) of the various genotypes of the MTHFR 667
polymorphism are analyzed. In FIG. 14A, these thermal melt curves
are analyzed over the temperature range of 54.degree. C. to
87.degree. C., as can be seen from the label in window 1402. Using
the Monte Carlo methods, as described herein, a probability cross
table 1404 is generated and output in window 1402. The wild-type,
homozygous, and heterozygous genotype clusters are each plotted in
cluster graph 1406. From this graph, it is possible to see that the
wild-type cluster 1408, heterozygous cluster 1410, and homozygous
mutant cluster 1412 are fairly discrete and separate from one
another, and generally do not overlap. An overall expected
misclassification rate (approximately 0.003%) is output at field
1414.
[0161] FIG. 14B illustrates an analysis 1416 of a second assay. The
second assay differs from the first assay in FIG. 14A in that the
thermal melt curves are analyzed over the temperature range of
54.degree. C. to 74.degree. C., as can be seen in the label in
window 1418. Using the Monte Carlo methods, as described herein, a
probability cross table 1420 is generated and output in window
1418. The wild-type, homozygous, and heterozygous genotype clusters
are each plotted in cluster graph 1422. From this graph, one may
notice that there is some overlap between the wild-type cluster
1424 and the heterozygous cluster 1426, as well as between the
heterozygous cluster and the homozygous mutant cluster 1428. As
would be expected from this visual indication, the overall expected
misclassification rate output in field 1430 (which is around
1.048%) is larger in this assay than the expected misclassification
rate for the assay that corresponds to FIG. 14A.
[0162] FIG. 14C illustrates an analysis 1432 of a third assay. The
third assay differs from the first and second assays in FIGS. 14A
and 14B in that the thermal melt curves are analyzed over the
temperature range of 74.degree. C. to 84.degree. C., as can be seen
from the label in the window 1434. Using the Monte Carlo methods,
as described herein, a probability cross table 1436 is generated
and output in window 1434. The wild-type, homozygous, and
heterozygous genotype clusters are again each plotted in cluster
graph 1438. From this graph, one may notice that there is now
significant overlap between the wild-type cluster 1440 and the
homozygous mutant cluster 1444, though the heterozygous cluster
1442 remains separate. The probability cross table reflects this,
as the off-diagonal elements in the "Heterozygous" row are zero and
the diagonal element (which corresponds to the probability that a
data point representing a heterozygous thermal melt curve would be
called as a heterozygous curve) is one. The overall expected
misclassification rate output in field 1602 (around 0.927%) is
larger in this assay than in the assay that corresponds to FIG. 14A
but smaller than that for the assay in FIG. 14B. FIGS. 15A-C
illustrate the three graphs and cross-probability tables from FIGS.
14A-C for easy comparison. In this example, from both the visual
inspection of the graph and the quantitative comparison through the
overall misclassification rate, the temperature range of 54.degree.
C. to 87.degree. C. can be selected as superior to the other two
ranges.
[0163] FIG. 16 displays three probability cross-tables for the
assays corresponding to FIGS. 14A-C, but instead uses a 95%
"no-call" threshold value. Implementing this no-call threshold
value in this case results in an overall misclassification rate for
the first assay of, effectively, zero, an overall misclassification
rate for the second assay of approximately 0.130%, and an overall
misclassification rate for the third assay of approximately 0.062%.
In this embodiment, the overall no-call rate is also output in
field 1602. One can see from this field that 0.003% of the points
from the first assay resulted in a no-call, while approximately
3.365% of the points from second assay resulted in a no-call and
approximately 2.880% of the points from the third assay resulted in
a no-call. By allowing a user to set a no-call threshold, the user
can gauge the improvement in the accuracy of the assay by
introducing a no-call threshold while, at the same time,
understanding how much data is discarded by setting the no-call
threshold.
[0164] Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the methods and
systems disclosed herein may be expanded to apply to genotypes with
four or more possible genotypes, or contracted to apply to
genotypes with two possible genotypes. For example, FIG. 17
illustrates another screen shot of an implementation of the methods
and systems of the present invention for an assay obtaining
fluorescence versus temperature dynamic profiles of nucleic acids
of the class of possible genotypes in the Exon 10 region
responsible for Cystic Fibrosis. In this class of genotypes, four
separate genotypes may be possible: the wild type, heterozygous
1507, heterozygous F508, and homozygous F508. FIGS. 18A-D display
four separate cluster plots using four different projections of the
data points for this class of genotypes from four-space; the axes
in each cluster plot are labeled to indicate the maximal
correlation boundary to which they correspond.
[0165] In accordance with other aspects, the present invention also
provides systems implementing the various methods disclosed herein.
For example, a system for implementing the genotype analysis
methods described herein comprises a computer including a processor
and a memory, a conversion module, a reduction module, a display
device, and a plotting module. In some embodiments, the system may
further include a statistical generation matrix module, an
eigenvalue/eigenvector calculation module, and an
ellipse-generation module.
[0166] The computer, including a processor and memory, may be any
standard computing device including both a processor and a memory.
The display device may be a monitor, a printer, a plotter, or any
other device adapted to transmit information to a user. The
conversion module may be configured to convert dynamic profiles,
input into the computer, into data points, correlation vectors,
etc. according to the methods disclosed herein, or in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/759,415, incorporated herein by reference.
The reduction module may be configured to reduce the
multi-dimensional data points into reduced-dimensional data points
through the method for doing so outlined herein. The plotting
module is configured to generate a plot of the reduced-dimensional
data points for each genotype on the display device. In one
embodiment, the conversion and reduction modules may both be
appropriately programmed into a computer such that the computer is
configured to perform the functions of both modules; this computer
may further be the computer already included in the system. In
another embodiment, the conversion and reduction modules may be
encoded in software stored on a computer readable medium that, when
executed by a computer, may configure the computer to perform the
functions of the conversion and reduction modules.
[0167] The plotting module may also be configured to include
multiple axes that each represent boundaries where correlation of
the dynamic profiles represented is maximal against an average
profile of one of the known genotypes for each genotype, as
described herein. The plotting module may further be configured to
display the extent to which clusters of the reduced-dimensional
data points for each of the known genotypes are separated. The
plotting module, in one embodiment, may be appropriately programmed
into a computer; this computer, again, may be the computer
including a processor and memory that is already included in the
system. Further, the computer may be in communication with the
display device. In another embodiment, the plotting module may be
encoded in software stored on a computer readable medium that, when
read and executed by a computer, may configure the computer to
perform the function of the plotting module.
[0168] As stated above, some embodiments of the system may further
include a statistical generation matrix module, an
eigenvalue/eigenvector calculation module, and an
ellipse-generation module. In these embodiments, the statistical
matrix generation module may be configured to generate a mean data
point and covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes from
the set of reduced-dimensional data points representing dynamic
profiles of each corresponding known genotype, as described above.
The eigenvalue/eigenvector calculation module may be configured to
calculate eigenvalues and eigenvectors of each of the covariance
matrices, and the ellipse generation module may be configured to
calculate a rotation angle and major/minor axis widths of an
n-ellipse for each of the known genotypes, as described above. In
embodiments including these modules, the plotting module may be
configured to display the n-ellipses on the plot.
[0169] The eigenvalue/eigenvector calculation module may be, in an
embodiment of the invention, an appropriately programmed computer.
In another embodiment, the eigenvalue/eigenvector calculation
module may be encoded in software stored on a computer readable
medium that, when executed by a computer, may configure the
computer to perform the functions of the eigenvalue/eigenvector
calculation module. In another embodiment, the statistical matrix
generation module may be programmed appropriately into a computer.
Alternately, the statistical matrix generation module may be
encoded in software stored on a computer readable medium that, when
executed by a computer, may configure the computer to perform the
functions of the statistical matrix generation module. The
ellipse-generation module may be, in some embodiments, an
appropriately programmed computer, or encoded in software stored on
a computer readable medium that, when executed by a computer, may
configure the computer to perform the functions of the
ellipse-generation module. Again, the computer may be the computer
including a processor and memory that is already included in the
system.
[0170] In some embodiments, the conversion module may be configured
to convert a dynamic profile of an unknown genotype of a nucleic
acid to a multi-dimensional data point representing the unknown
genotype; the reduction module may be configured to reduce the
multi-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype into
a reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype;
and the plotting module may be configured to plot the
reduced-dimensional data point representing the unknown genotype on
the plot. The system may further include an identification module,
which may be configured to identify the genotype. The
identification module may, again, be an appropriately programmed
computer, or encoded in software stored on a computer readable
medium that, when executed by a computer, may configure the
computer to perform the functions of the statistical matrix
generation module. Again, the computer may be the computer
including a processor and memory that is already included in the
system.
[0171] Another aspect of the invention may include a system for
calculating an error statistic for identifying a genotype in a
biological sample. In one embodiment, the system may include an
assay, a computer, including a processor and a memory, and an
output module. The assay may be any biological assay configured to
generate dynamic profiles of each known genotype of a nucleic acid,
wherein the dynamic profiles each comprise measurements of a signal
representing a physical change of a nucleic acid containing the
known genotype relative to an independent variable. As a
non-limiting example, one such assay is disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/759,415.
[0172] In some embodiments, the computer may be configured to
perform the following steps: a) converting the dynamic profiles
generated by the assay of each known genotype to data points; b)
transforming the data points such that each element of the data
points is normally distributed, and grouping the data points by
each known genotype to generate a data set for each known genotype;
c) generating a mean data point and covariance matrix for each of
the known genotypes from the data set for each genotype; d)
generating N random data points with the same mean data point and
covariance matrix for each of the known genotypes; and e)
calculating an error statistic for the assay, based upon the
generated N random data points for a known genotype.
[0173] In generating the N random data points for each known
genotype, the computer may be configured to perform the steps of i)
calculating a Cholesky factorization of the covariance matrix for
each known genotype; ii) generating N random data points with a
normalized distribution for each known genotype; iii) transforming
the N random data points for each known genotype with the Cholesky
factorization for that genotype to generate N transformed random
data points for each known genotype; and iv) shifting each of the N
random data points for each known genotype by the mean data point
to generate a set of N random data points with the same mean data
point and covariance matrix for each known genotype. The Monte
Carlo method disclosed herein is one implementation of these steps.
This method may effectively generate several different error
statistics. For example, three preferred error statistics include
an expected misclassification rate for one or all of the known
genotypes, an overall expected misclassification rate for the assay
as a whole, or a posterior probability that an unknown sample
containing one of the known genotypes would be identified as an
individual known genotype.
[0174] The computer may also be further configured to perform the
steps of reducing the data points in each data set for each known
genotype into reduced-dimensional data points. The output module
may also be further adapted to generate a plot of the
reduced-dimensional data points for each genotype. In this manner,
the system may generate a plot according to genotype analysis
methods disclosed herein.
[0175] In another embodiment, the system may include a first assay
having a first set of assay parameters and a second assay having a
second set of assay parameters. Each assay may be configured to
generate a corresponding set of dynamic profiles of each known
genotype of a nucleic acid, wherein the dynamic profiles each
comprise measurements of a signal representing a physical change of
a nucleic acid containing the known genotype relative to an
independent variable. Preferably, the first and second set of assay
parameters may have at least one differing assay parameter. In this
embodiment, the computer may be further configured to perform the
steps of f) repeating steps a-e described above for at least the
second assay; and g) comparing the error statistic for the first
assay and the error statistic for the second assay. Further, in
this embodiment, the output module may be further configured to
output the error statistic for the second assay. In one embodiment,
the at least one differing assay parameter may be selected from the
group consisting of reaction components, assay equipment, analysis
software, measured independent variable, or range over which the
independent variable of the dynamic profiles is measured, as
disclosed above.
[0176] In one embodiment, the system may further include an input
device. In this embodiment, the computer may be configured to
perform step e) by receiving a no-call threshold value from the
input device and calculating an error statistic for the assay,
based upon the no-call threshold value and the generated N random
data points for a known genotype, as disclosed above.
[0177] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. For example, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then
11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed. All methods described herein
can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated
herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any
and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided
herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and
does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless
otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be
construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the
practice of the invention.
[0178] It will be appreciated that the methods and compositions of
the instant invention can be incorporated in the form of a variety
of embodiments, only a few of which are disclosed herein.
Variations of those embodiments may become apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description.
The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as
appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended
hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of
the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is
encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *