Analysis of Multiple DNA Microarray Datasets

In contrast to conventional clustering algorithms, where a single dataset is used to produce a clustering solution, we introduce herein a MapReduce approach for clustering of datasets generated in multiple-experiment settings. It is inspired by the map-reduce functions commonly used in functional programming and consists of two distinctive phases. Initially, the selected clustering algorithm is applied (mapped) to each experiment separately. This produces a list of different clustering solutions, one per experiment. These are further transformed (reduced) by portioning the cluster centers into a single clustering solution. The obtained partition is not disjoint in terms of the different participating genes, and it is further analyzed and refined by applying formal concept analysis.