Predisposition Prediction Using Co-associating Bioattributes

Abstract

A bioinformatics method, software, database and system are presented in which statistical predictions are generated to indicate an individual's predisposition toward each of a plurality of query attributes (i.e., attributes of interest). The predictions are generated based on the identification of predisposing attribute combinations within the attribute profile of the individual and corresponding statistical results which indicate the strength of association of those predisposing attribute combinations with the query attributes.

1 . A bioinformatics method for predicting an individual's predisposition for association with each of a plurality of stored query attributes, comprising:
 a) accessing an attribute profile of an individual, wherein the attribute profile comprises pangenetic attributes and non-pangenetic attributes;   b) accessing a set containing i) query attributes, ii) attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attributes, wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute and at least one non-pangenetic attribute, and iii) corresponding statistical results that indicate strength of association of the query attributes with the attribute combinations;   c) identifying, for each of the query attributes, statistically associated attribute combinations from the set that also occur in the attribute profile; and   d) generating, based on at least a portion of the identified attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results, statistical predictions indicating the individual's predisposition for association with each of the query attributes.   
   
   
       2 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 e) transmitting the statistical predictions as output to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.   
   
   
       3 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 e) associating the statistical predictions with the individual and storing the association, wherein storing the association comprises storing a link to at least one data selected from the group consisting of the attribute profile of the individual, an identifier of the individual, and a record of the individual.   
   
   
       4 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 e) tabulating the statistical predictions to generate a record of the individual's predisposition.   
   
   
       5 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 e) updating one or more of the attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results in the set based on the content of the attribute profile of the individual.   
   
   
       6 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the largest attribute combination that is statistically associated with a query attribute and also occurs in the attribute profile is used as the basis for generating the statistical prediction indicating the individual's predisposition for association with that query attribute. 
   
   
       7 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding statistical results of the attribute combinations identified in step (c) meet at least one predetermined statistical threshold. 
   
   
       8 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the attribute combinations identified in step (c) contain or lack one or more user specified attributes. 
   
   
       9 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the query attribute is a query attribute combination comprising two or more attributes. 
   
   
       10 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute, at least one physical attribute, at least one behavioral attribute, and at least one situational attribute. 
   
   
       11 . A program storage device readable by a machine and containing a set of instructions which, when read by the machine, causes execution of a bioinformatics method for predicting an individual's predisposition for association with each of a plurality of stored query attributes, comprising:
 a) accessing an attribute profile of an individual, wherein the attribute profile comprises pangenetic attributes and non-pangenetic attributes;   b) accessing a set containing i) query attributes, ii) attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attributes, wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute and at least one non-pangenetic attribute, and iii) corresponding statistical results that indicate strength of association of the query attributes with the attribute combinations;   c) identifying, for each of the query attributes, statistically associated attribute combinations from the set that also occur in the attribute profile; and   d) generating, based on at least a portion of the identified attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results, statistical predictions indicating the individual's predisposition for association with each of the query attributes.   
   
   
       12 . The program storage device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 e) transmitting the statistical predictions as output to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.   
   
   
       13 . The program storage device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute, at least one physical attribute, at least one behavioral attribute, and at least one situational attribute. 
   
   
       14 . A bioinformatics database system for predicting an individual's predisposition for association with each of a plurality of stored query attributes, comprising:
 a) a memory containing:
 i) a first data structure containing an attribute profile of an individual, wherein the attribute profile comprises pangenetic attributes and non-pangenetic attributes; 
 ii) a second data structure containing a) query attributes, b) attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attributes, wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute and at least one non-pangenetic attribute, and c) corresponding statistical results that indicate strength of association of the query attributes with the attribute combinations; 
   b) a processor for:
 i) accessing the first data structure; 
 ii) accessing the second data structure; 
 iii) identifying, for each of the query attributes, statistically associated attribute combinations contained in the second data structure that also occur in the attribute profile contained in the first data structure; and 
 iv) generating, based on at least a portion of the identified attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results, statistical predictions indicating the individual's predisposition for association with each of the query attributes. 
   
   
   
       15 . The bioinformatics database system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is also for:
 v) transmitting the statistical predictions as output to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.   
   
   
       16 . The bioinformatics database system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute, at least one physical attribute, at least one behavioral attribute, and at least one situational attribute. 
   
   
       17 . A bioinformatics computer-based system for predicting an individual's predisposition for association with each of a plurality of stored query attributes, comprising:
 a) a first data accessing subsystem for accessing an attribute profile of an individual, wherein the attribute profile comprises pangenetic attributes and non-pangenetic attributes;   b) a second data accessing subsystem for accessing a set containing i) query attributes, ii) attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attributes, wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute and at least one non-pangenetic attribute, and iii) corresponding statistical results that indicate strength of association of the query attributes with the attribute combinations;   c) a data processing subsystem comprising:
 i) a data comparison subsystem for identifying, for each of the query attributes, statistically associated attribute combinations from the set that also occur in the attribute profile; and 
 ii) a statistical data subsystem for generating, based on at least a portion of the identified attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results, statistical predictions indicating the individual's predisposition for association with each of the query attributes. 
   
   
   
       18 . The bioinformatics computer-based system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 d) a communications subsystem for transmitting the statistical predictions as output to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.   
   
   
       19 . The bioinformatics computer-based system of  claim 17 , wherein the data processing subsystem further comprises:
 iii) a database updating subsystem for updating one or more of the attribute combinations and corresponding statistical results in the set based on the content of the attribute profile of the individual.   
   
   
       20 . The bioinformatics computer-based system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute, at least one physical attribute, at least one behavioral attribute, and at least one situational attribute.