System, method and apparatus for assembling and mining life science data

Abstract

Method and system for managing and evaluating life science data. Life Science data is placed in a knowledge base, that may be used for a variety of analysis tasks. Creating a knowledge base from the life science data involves generating two or more nodes indicative of life science data, assigning to one or more pairs of nodes a representation descriptor that corresponds to a relationship between the nodes, and assembling the nodes and the relationship descriptor into a database, such that at least one of the nodes is joined to another node by a representation descriptor. In some embodiments, the representation descriptor includes a case frame that describes the relationships between elements of life science data.

1 . A method of assembling a life science knowledge base comprising the steps of:
 (a) generating two or more nodes indicative of life science data using a life science taxonomy;   (b) assigning to one or more pairs of nodes a representation descriptor, the representation descriptor corresponding to a relationship between a pair of nodes;   (c) assembling two or more nodes and one or more representation descriptors assigned to one or more pairs of said two or more nodes into an electronic database such that at least one of said two or more nodes is joined to a another node by a representation descriptor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving life science data, wherein the step of generating two or more nodes is based at least in part on said received life science data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of receiving life science data comprises collecting said life science data using a software agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of receiving life science data further comprises receiving one or more of metadata and context data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said life science data comprises information representative of a molecule, biological structure, physiological condition, trait, phenotype, biological process, clinical data, medical data, or disease data and chemistry. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said life science data comprises a descriptor of the condition, location, amount, or substructure of a molecule, biological structure, physiological condition, trait, phenotype, biological process, clinical data, medical data, or disease data and chemistry. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating two or more nodes comprises reformatting at least a portion of said life science data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the representation descriptors correspond to a epistemological relationship between a pair of nodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the representation descriptors comprise a case frame. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing an ontology for use with representation descriptors, wherein the step of assigning to one or more pairs of nodes a representation descriptor is based on said ontology. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of segregating said electronic database into two or more sectors such that access may be restricted to one or more selected sectors. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more nodes itself represents a representation descriptor. 
     
     
         13 . An article of manufacture having a computer-readable program carrier with computer-readable instructions embodied thereon for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A system for assembling a life science knowledge base comprising:
 (a) a data collector configured to receive life science data and to generate nodes based on said life science data;   (b) a relationship generator configured to assign a relationship descriptor to a pair of nodes, the representation descriptor corresponding to a relationship between a pair of nodes; and   (c) a knowledge assembler configured to assemble two or more nodes and one or more representation descriptors assigned to one or more pairs of said two or more nodes into an electronic database such that at least one of said two or more nodes is joined to another node by a representation descriptor.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a graphical user interface configured to permit a user to query the electronic database at least on the relationship between at least two nodes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a data input interface configured to permit a user to submit life science data to the data collector. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the data input interface is further configured to permit a user to assign a representation descriptor to a pair of nodes in the electronic database. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising an access manager configured to restrict access of a user to one or more portions of the electronic database. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a software agent in electronic communication with the data collector, wherein the software agent is configured to collect life science data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said life science data comprises information representative of a molecule, biological structure, physiological condition, trait, phenotype, biological process, clinical data, medical data, or disease data and chemistry. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said life science data comprises a descriptor of the condition, location, amount, or substructure of a molecule, biological structure, physiological condition, trait, phenotype, biological process, clinical data, medical data, or disease data and chemistry. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a library of machine readable representation descriptors in electronic communication with the relationship generator. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the representation descriptors correspond to a epistemological relationship between a pair of nodes. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the representation descriptors comprise a case frame. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the nodes represents a representation descriptor. 
     
     
         26 - 91 . (canceled)