Using Normalization Techniques on Microarray Data to Determine Differential Gene Expression

We will present techniques which can be used to normalize microarray datasets prior to statistical testing of a biological question. In particular, we are interested in identifying genes which are differentially expressed between tumor and normal cells in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. To do so, we investigate existing microarray datasets from matched tumor and normal samples collected from these patients. We will discuss normalization techniques (log2 transformation, Lowess normalization, Quantile normalization) which we use to correct for bias and prepare data for statistical testing to identify differentially expressed genes in the two conditions. Future applications of these techniques could result in more efficient diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.