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Microarray Data Storage

The Bioinformatics Toolbox™ includes functions, objects, and methods for creating, storing, and accessing microarray data.

The object constructor function, DataMatrix, lets you create a DataMatrix object to encapsulate data and metadata from a microarray experiment. A DataMatrix object stores experimental data in a matrix, with rows typically corresponding to gene names or probe identifiers, and columns typically corresponding to sample identifiers. A DataMatrix object also stores metadata, including the gene names or probe identifiers (as the row names) and sample identifiers (as the column names).

You can reference microarray expression values in a DataMatrix object the same way you reference data in a MATLAB® array, that is, by using linear or logical indexing. Alternately, you can reference this experimental data by gene (probe) identifiers and sample identifiers. Indexing by these identifiers lets you quickly and conveniently access subsets of the data without having to maintain additional index arrays.

Many MATLAB operators and arithmetic functions are available to DataMatrix objects by means of methods. These methods let you modify, combine, compare, analyze, plot, and access information from DataMatrix objects. Additionally, you can easily extend the functionality by using general element-wise functions, dmarrayfun and dmbsxfun, and by manually accessing the properties of a DataMatrix object.

Note

For more information on creating and using DataMatrix objects, see Representing Expression Data Values in DataMatrix Objects.

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