A Human "eFP" Browser for Generating Gene Expression Anatograms

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 8;11(3):e0150982. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150982. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Transcriptomic studies help to further our understanding of gene function. Human transcriptomic studies tend to focus on a particular subset of tissue types or a particular disease state; however, it is possible to collate into a compendium multiple studies that have been profiled using the same expression analysis platform to provide an overview of gene expression levels in many different tissues or under different conditions. In order to increase the knowledge and understanding we gain from such studies, intuitive visualization of gene expression data in such a compendium can be useful. The Human eFP ("electronic Fluorescent Pictograph") Browser presented here is a tool for intuitive visualization of large human gene expression data sets on pictographic representations of the human body as gene expression "anatograms". Pictographic representations for new data sets may be generated easily. The Human eFP Browser can also serve as a portal to other gene-specific information through link-outs to various online resources.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Databases, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Profiling* / methods
  • Humans
  • Software
  • Transcriptome
  • Web Browser*

Grants and funding

A University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science, Funds for Online Learning Initiative (FOIL) grant for "An Upper Level Bioinformatic Methods Computer Laboratory Course as a MOOC" to NJP in part supported RVP while undertaking work described in this paper. The Human eFP Browser is used in the Bioinformatic Methods II course on Coursera.org that was created through this grant. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The other authors (NJP and ETH) received no specific funding for this work.