Determining Bioattribute Associations Using Expanded Bioattribute Profiles

Abstract

A bioinformatics method, software, database and system are presented in which an expanded attribute profile is used to determine the strength of association between an individual and a query attribute (i.e., an attribute of interest). Primary attributes in an attribute profile of the individual are used as the basis for deriving lower resolution secondary attributes which are added to the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile. The strength of association between the individual and the query attribute is determined based on the identification of one or more attribute combinations in the expanded attribute profile that also occur in a dataset containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.

1 . A bioinformatics method for determining the strength of association between an individual and a query attribute by using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:
 a) accessing one or more primary attributes contained in an attribute profile of the individual;   b) generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes;   c) storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile of the individual; and   d) determining the strength of association between the individual and the query attribute based on identification of one or more attribute combinations in the expanded attribute profile that also occur in a set containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.   
   
   
       2 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 e) transmitting the determination 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 , wherein the set containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute also contains corresponding statistical results that indicate the strength of association of each of the attribute combinations with the query attribute, and wherein the corresponding statistical results are used as the basis for determining the strength of association between the individual and the query attribute. 
   
   
       4 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the attribute combinations contains at least one pangenetic attribute and at least one non-pangenetic attribute. 
   
   
       5 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the query attribute is a combination of two or more attributes. 
   
   
       6 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the identity of the individual is masked or anonymized. 
   
   
       7 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary attributes encompass the primary attributes. 
   
   
       8 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is a categorical attribute that encompasses at least one primary attribute that is a numerical attribute. 
   
   
       9 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived by compounding the values of two or more primary attributes. 
   
   
       10 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one primary attribute has a continuous value and at least one secondary attribute derived from that primary attribute has a discrete value. 
   
   
       11 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute is derived through a heuristic rule applied to one or more primary attributes. 
   
   
       12 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary attribute comprises an inequality statement containing a quantitative value, wherein the quantitative value is either larger or smaller than that of the primary attribute from which it was derived. 
   
   
       13 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively larger quantitative values. 
   
   
       14 . The bioinformatics method of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the secondary attributes comprise a sequence of inequality statements containing progressively smaller quantitative values. 
   
   
       15 . 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 determining the strength of association between an individual and a query attribute by using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:
 a) accessing one or more primary attributes contained in an attribute profile of the individual;   b) generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes;   c) storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile of the individual; and   d) determining the strength of association between the individual and the query attribute based on identification of one or more attribute combinations in the expanded attribute profile that also occur in a set containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.   
   
   
       16 . The program storage device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 e) transmitting the determination 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.   
   
   
       17 . A bioinformatics database system for determining the strength of association between an individual and a query attribute by using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:
 a) a memory containing a first data structure containing an attribute profile of the individual, wherein the attribute profile contains one or more primary attributes;   b) a processor for:
 i) accessing the first data structure; 
 ii) generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes; 
 iii) storing, in a second data structure in the memory, the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile of the individual; and 
 iv) determining the strength of association between the individual and the query attribute based on identification of one or more attribute combinations in the expanded attribute profile that also occur in a set containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute. 
   
   
   
       18 . The bioinformatics database system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is also for:
 v) transmitting the determination 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 . A bioinformatics computer-based system for determining attribute associations using an expanded attribute profile, comprising:
 a) a first data accessing subsystem for accessing one or more primary attributes contained in an attribute profile of the individual;   b) a first data processing subsystem for generating one or more secondary attributes, wherein the secondary attributes are lower resolution attributes derived from the primary attributes;   c) a data storage subsystem for storing the secondary attributes in association with the attribute profile to create an expanded attribute profile of the individual; and   d) a second data processing subsystem for determining the strength of association between the individual and the query attribute based on identification of one or more attribute combinations in the expanded attribute profile that also occur in a set containing attribute combinations that are statistically associated with the query attribute.   
   
   
       20 . The bioinformatics computer-based system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 e) a data communications subsystem for transmitting the determination 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.