A Galaxy Implementation of Next-Generation Clustered Heatmaps for Interactive Exploration of Molecular Profiling Data
Bradley M Broom1, Michael C Ryan2, Robert E Brown2
1Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. BMBroom@mdanderson.org jweinste@mdanderson.org.
Cancer Research
|November 3, 2017
Summary
Next-generation clustered heatmaps (NG-CHMs) offer interactive visualization for biological data, enabling deep exploration. This new system integrates with the Galaxy platform for enhanced data analysis and discovery.
Area of Science:
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
- Data Visualization
Background:
- Clustered heatmaps are standard for molecular profiling data visualization.
- Existing heatmaps are often static or have limited interactivity.
- Advanced web technologies can overcome these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop interactive "next-generation" clustered heatmaps (NG-CHMs).
- To integrate NG-CHMs into the Galaxy bioinformatics platform.
- To enhance exploration of complex biological data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recent advances in web technologies for interactive visualization.
- Implemented the NG-CHM system within the Galaxy bioinformatics platform.
- Applied the tool to RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
Main Results:
- NG-CHMs allow extreme zooming and navigation without resolution loss.
- The system provides link-outs to additional information sources.
- Facilitates deeper exploration of biological insights from molecular profiling data.
Conclusions:
- NG-CHMs represent a significant advancement in biological data visualization.
- Integration with Galaxy enhances accessibility for bioinformatics research.
- The developed tool aids in uncovering complex biological patterns.
