Methods and systems for analyzing complex biological systems

• US 20040019429A1
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Icoria, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Icoria, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hurban, Patrick M., Zhang, Weiwen, Davis, Keith, Lawrence, Matthew, Coffin, Marie, Hamilton, Carol, Boyes, Douglas, Allen, Keith, Liddell, Craig M., Beecher, Christopher, Shuster, Jeffrey, Woessner, Jeffrey, Hoffman, Neil
• Application Number:
  US10/300,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/72 Mass spectrometers mass spectrometers per se H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8655 Details of data formats
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8658 Optimising operation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8662 Expert systems; optimising a large number of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8679 Target compound analysis, i.e. whereby a limited number of peaks is analysed
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/8693 Models, e.g. prediction of retention times, method development and validation
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 5/00 ICT specially adapted for modelling or simulations in systems biology, e.g. gene-regulatory networks, protein interaction networks or metabolic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/00 ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/20 Heterogeneous data integration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for organizing complex and disparate data. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems for organizing complex and disparate data into coherent data sets. Coherent data sets resulting from the methods and systems of the present invention serve as models for biological systems. Methods and systems for integrating data and creating coherent data sets are useful for numerous biological applications, such as, for example, determining gene function, identifying and validating drug and pesticide targets, identifying and validating drug and pesticide candidate compounds, profiling drug and pesticide compounds, producing a compilation of health or wellness profiles, determining compound site(s) of action, identifying unknown samples, and numerous other applications in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, forensic, and biotechnology industries.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system data from said biological sample, wherein said data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system, wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

e) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

12. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system data from said biological sample, wherein said data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system;

f) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

g) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

22. The method according to claim 12, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

23. The method according to claim 12, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

24. The method according to claim 12, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.

25. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system data from said biological sample, wherein said data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

34. The method according to claim 25, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

36. The method according to claim 25, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.

37. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system data from said biological sample, wherein said data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system;

e) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

43. The method according to claim 37, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

44. The method according to claim 37, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

45. The method according to claim 37, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

46. The method according to claim 37, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

47. The method according to claim 37, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

48. The method according to claim 37, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

49. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least two types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system, wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

e) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein said at least two types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

54. The method according to claim 52, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

56. The method according to claim 49, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

57. The method according to claim 49, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

58. The method according to claim 49, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

59. The method according to claim 49, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

60. The method according to claim 49, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

61. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least two types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system;

f) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced data is a coherent data set; and

g) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein said at least two types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

63. The method according to claim 61, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

64. The method according to claim 61, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

66. The method according to claim 64, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

67. The method according to claim 64, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

68. The method according to claim 61, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

69. The method according to claim 61, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

70. The method according to claim 61, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

71. The method according to claim 61, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

72. The method according to claim 61, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

73. The method according to claim 61, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

74. The method according to claim 61, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.

75. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least two types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system;

e) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein said at least two types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

77. The method according to claim 75, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

78. The method according to claim 75, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

79. The method according to claim 78, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

80. The method according to claim 78, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

81. The method according to claim 78, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

82. The method according to claim 75, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

83. The method according to claim 75, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

84. The method according to claim 75, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

85. The method according to claim 75, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

86. The method according to claim 75, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

87. The method according to claim 75, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

88. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least two types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system, wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

89. The method according to claim 88, wherein said at least two types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

90. The method according to claim 88, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

91. The method according to claim 88, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

92. The method according to claim 91, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

93. The method according to claim 91, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

94. The method according to claim 91, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

95. The method according to claim 88, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

96. The method according to claim 88, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

97. The method according to claim 88, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

98. The method according to claim 88, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

99. The method according to claim 88, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

100. The method according to claim 88, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.

101. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least three types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system, wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

e) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

102. The method according to claim 101, wherein said at least three types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

103. The method according to claim 101, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

104. The method according to claim 101, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

105. The method according to claim 104, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

106. The method according to claim 104, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

107. The method according to claim 104, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

108. The method according to claim 101, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

109. The method according to claim 101, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

110. The method according to claim 101, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

111. The method according to claim 101, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

112. The method according to claim 101, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

113. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least three types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system;

f) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced data is a coherent data set; and

g) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

114. The method according to claim 113, wherein said at least three types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

115. The method according to claim 113, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

116. The method according to claim 113, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

117. The method according to claim 116, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

118. The method according to claim 116, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

119. The method according to claim 116, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

120. The method according to claim 113, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

121. The method according to claim 113, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

122. The method according to claim 113, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

123. The method according to claim 113, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

124. The method according to claim 113, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

125. The method according to claim 113, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

126. The method according to claim 113, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.

127. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least three types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) converting said numeric format data to a common unit system;

e) reducing the dimensionality of said common unit system data, wherein said dimensionally reduced common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said dimensionally reduced data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

128. The method according to claim 127, wherein said at least three types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

129. The method according to claim 127, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

130. The method according to claim 127, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

131. The method according to claim 130, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

132. The method according to claim 130, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

133. The method according to claim 130, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

134. The method according to claim 127, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

135. The method according to claim 127, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

136. The method according to claim 127, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

137. The method according to claim 127, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

138. The method according to claim 127, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

139. The method according to claim 127, wherein said reduction of dimensionality is achieved by applying one of the group consisting of principle components analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and pre-clustering of said common unit system data.

140. A method for establishing a signature profile indicative of the physiological status of an individual, comprising:

a) entering a unique identifier of at least one biological sample into a computer tracking system;

b) storing in said computer tracking system disparate data, wherein said disparate data comprise at least three types of data and said disparate data are linked to said unique identifier;

c) converting said linked disparate data to a numeric format;

d) transforming said numeric format data into a Gaussian distribution;

e) converting said Gaussian distribution data to a common unit system, wherein said common unit system data is a coherent data set; and

f) determining the most informative of said common unit system data;

wherein said most informative data are a signature profile indicative of physiological status.

141. The method according to claim 140, wherein said at least three types of data are obtained from the group consisting of RNA data, DNA data, protein data, metabolite data, and phenotypic data.

142. The method according to claim 140, wherein the computer tracking system is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

143. The method according to claim 140, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of animalia, plantae, protista, monera, and fungi.

144. The method according to claim 143, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of human primate, non-human primate, canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rodent, liver tissue, liver spheroids, primary hepatocytes, liver cell lines, and HepG2 cells.

145. The method according to claim 143, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, corn, wheat, barley, rye, legumes, mint, tobacco, tomatoes, rice, spinach, and peas.

146. The method according to claim 143, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of Magnaporthe, Candida, Mycosphaerella, Botrytis, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Erysiphe, Ustilago, Fursarium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.

147. The method according to claim 140, wherein said signature profile is indicative of a particular disease or disease stage.

148. The method according to claim 140, wherein said signature profile is indicative of the efficacy of a therapeutic program or exposure to a particular chemical.

149. The method according to claim 140, wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of a healthy organism, a diseased organism, a drug-treated organism, and a genetically altered organism.

150. The method according to claim 140, wherein the biological sample is from an organism having received an environmental or chemical insult.

151. The method according to claim 140, wherein the common unit system is deviation from a standard.

152. The method according to claim 140, wherein said transformation into a Gaussian distribution occurs by conversion of said numeric format data to a logarithmic scale.