The Experimental Variable | ArrayExpress - EMBL-EBI

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ArrayExpress

Discover functional genomics data quickly and easily

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• Course overview
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• What is ArrayExpress?
• How are datasets submitted and stored in ArrayExpress?

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  • Metadata is stored in MAGE-TAB format

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    • Metadata for microarray experiments
  • Raw and processed data files
  • The experimental variable
• How to search ArrayExpress

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  • The experiments overview
  • Refining your search
  • The results table
  • Advanced search functions
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• Experiment and sample information

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  • Sample information
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  • Opening and processing raw data files

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    • Microarray experiments

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      • Tools for conversion of probe IDs
    • Sequencing experiments
  • Gene set enrichment analysis
  • Expression Atlas
• Summary
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The experimental variable Beta

Got questions? Feel free to ask Ada, our training AI assistant.

An important element that is defined in the metadata of each experiment is the “experimental variable”.

The experimental variable is usually one or several of the sample attribute categories. It describes the factors that differ between the test and the control samples, which you are investigating (Figure 6).

Examples of common experimental variables are:

• disease
• compound
• genotype
• growth condition
• time

At least one experimental variable must be specified for each experiment in ArrayExpress because it helps to identify the specific experimental conditions you are interested in. You will see how this is useful for retrieving precise search results in the next section.

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