Date of Award

Winter 2009

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Biochemistry

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Vern N Reinhold

Abstract

The major goal of research in this thesis is to design and implement a software tool (Q5+) that can easily, quickly and reliably search biomarkers by statistically analyzing mass spectrometry data from two different biological states. Q5+ implements most of the Q5 algorithm, a very good algorithm that is used for classifying mass spectrometry data (Lilien et al). Compared Q5 Q5+ improves the usability of Q5 by incorporating a Graphic User interface and Matrix Library. Results show that by running the same data, Q5+ and Q5 showed the equivalent classification ability. Q5+ also implements the Peak Screening feature, which can be used to identify a set of peaks that may have discriminant power. Although human inspection is inevitable, it offers a way for further investigation which otherwise may not be possible only by human inspection. Overall, Q5+ is an easy and reliable tool for lab research.

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