Revealing comprehensive genotype–phenotype associations through logic relationships

Abstract

A novel approach which employs principles of higher order logic analyses was developed to systematically correlate phylogenetic data with phenotype profiles by identification of phenotype specific patterns of presence of multiple proteins. For example, for most genomes expressing trait A, the presence of protein C presumes the presence of protein B, while for other genomes (not expressing the trait) the presence of protein C presumes the absence of protein B. We demonstrate that the phenotype specific patterns reflect fundamental structural changes in the genotype of microorganisms in relation to conditions provided by presence/absence of a trait. We discover many previously unidentified genotype–phenotype associations on the level of fundamental biochemical processes.