hypothesis testing
Definition
Hypothesis testing is a statistical method used to make inferences about populations based on sample data by evaluating whether observed patterns are likely due to chance or represent true biological effects. In life sciences, researchers formulate a null hypothesis (H₀) stating no effect exists, then calculate the probability (p-value) of observing their data if H₀ were true. Results are deemed statistically significant when p-values fall below predetermined thresholds (typically 0.05). This framework is fundamental for validating discoveries in genomics, proteomics, and drug efficacy studies, helping distinguish meaningful biological signals from random variation in complex datasets.
Visualize hypothesis testing in Nodes Bio
Researchers can visualize hypothesis testing results across network structures by mapping p-values, effect sizes, or confidence intervals onto nodes and edges. Significant gene-gene interactions, protein-protein associations, or pathway enrichments can be highlighted through color coding or edge thickness, enabling rapid identification of statistically validated relationships within complex biological networks and facilitating hypothesis-driven exploration of interconnected molecular mechanisms.
Visualization Ideas:
- Differential expression networks with nodes colored by p-value significance thresholds
- Protein interaction maps showing only statistically significant edges after hypothesis testing
- Pathway enrichment networks with node size proportional to test statistic strength
Example Use Case
A cancer researcher investigating resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy performs RNA-seq on treatment-resistant versus sensitive cell lines. After differential expression analysis, they test hypotheses for 20,000 genes, applying multiple testing correction. Genes with adjusted p-values < 0.05 are mapped onto protein interaction networks, revealing a cluster of significantly upregulated kinases. Network visualization highlights that five interconnected nodes show coordinated activation, suggesting a compensatory signaling pathway driving resistance that warrants experimental validation.