Bayesian hidden Markov model for DNA sequence segmentation: A prior sensitivity analysis

Nur, Darfiana, Allingham, David, Rousseau, Judith, Mengersen, Kerrie L. and McVinish, Ross (2009) Bayesian hidden Markov model for DNA sequence segmentation: A prior sensitivity analysis. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, 53 5: 1873-1882.


Author Nur, Darfiana
Allingham, David
Rousseau, Judith
Mengersen, Kerrie L.
McVinish, Ross
Title Bayesian hidden Markov model for DNA sequence segmentation: A prior sensitivity analysis
Journal name Computational Statistics and Data Analysis  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-03-15
Sub-type Article
Year available 2008
DOI 10.1016/j.csda.2008.07.007
Volume number 53
Issue number 5
ISSN 0167-9473
Start page 1873
End page 1882
Total pages 10
Editor David B. Allison
Peter M. Visscher
Guilherme J.M. Rosa
Christopher I. Amos
Place of publication Amsterdam
Publisher Elsevier B.V.
Language eng
Subject C1
970101 Expanding Knowledge in the Mathematical Sciences
010401 Applied Statistics
Formatted abstract The sensitivity to the specification of the prior in a hidden Markov model describing homogeneous segments of DNA sequences is considered. An intron from the chimpanzee α-fetoprotein gene, which plays an important role in embryonic development in mammals, is analysed. Three main aims are considered: (i) to assess the sensitivity to prior specification in Bayesian hidden Markov models for DNA sequence segmentation; (ii) to examine the impact of replacing the standard Dirichlet prior with a mixture Dirichlet prior; and (iii) to propose and illustrate a more comprehensive approach to sensitivity analysis, using importance sampling. It is obtained that (i) the posterior estimates obtained under a Bayesian hidden Markov model are indeed sensitive to the specification of the prior distributions; (ii) compared with the standard Dirichlet prior, the mixture Dirichlet prior is more flexible, less sensitive to the choice of hyperparameters and less constraining in the analysis, thus improving posterior estimates; and (iii) importance sampling was computationally feasible, fast and effective in allowing a richer sensitivity analysis.
Q-Index Code C1

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Mathematics and Physics
 
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Created: Tue, 02 Mar 2010, 16:07:19 EST by Kay Mackie on behalf of School of Mathematics & Physics