DELocal

DELocal identifies differentially expressed genes by comparing their expression changes to changes in adjacent genes in their chromosomal regions.

Key Features:

• Chromosomal neighbourhood comparison: Compares each gene's expression changes to those of its neighbouring genes from the same chromosomal location.
• Detection bias reduction: Removes detection bias towards large changes in expression, enabling identification of subtle expression changes.
• Neighbourhood pattern quantification: Quantifies chromosomal neighbourhood patterns of genes having related functional roles in the mammalian genome.

Scientific Applications:

• Developmental biology: Identifies differentially expressed genes in developmental processes associated with initially subtle changes in gene expression, such as organ development.
• Transcriptome analysis: Analyzes transcriptomes of developing tissues, including developing mouse molar teeth, to detect organ-specific changes in gene expression.

Methodology:

DELocal compares expression changes of each gene to changes in adjacent genes in their chromosomal regions, utilizing the observation that genes of related functions are generally far from each other on chromosomes and that neighbouring genes typically show no marked expression changes during organ development.