Consensus gene regulatory networks: combining multiple microarray gene expression datasets

In this paper we present a method for modelling gene regulatory networks by forming a consensus Bayesian network model from multiple microarray gene expression datasets. Our method is based on combining Bayesian network graph topologies and does not require any special pre‐processing of the datasets, such as re‐normalisation. We evaluate our method on a synthetic regulatory network and part of the yeast heat‐shock response regulatory network using publicly available yeast microarray datasets. Results are promising; the consensus networks formed provide a broader view of the potential underlying network, obtaining an increased true positive rate over networks constructed from a single data source.