Formal modeling of Gene Ontology annotation predictions based on factor graphs

Abstract

Gene Ontology (GO) is a hierarchical vocabulary for gene product annotation. Its synergy with machine learning classification methods has been widely used for the prediction of protein functions. Current classification methods rely on heuristic solutions to check the consistency with some aspects of the underlying GO structure. In this work we formalize the GO is-a relationship through predicate logic. Moreover, an ontology model based on Forney Factor Graph (FFG) is shown on a general fragment of Cellular Component GO.