title: Multinomial distributions in ploidy analysis.
abstract: Ploidy patterns can be summarized in the form of a vector of proportions representing the frequency of occurrence of DNA contents in specified intervals. Data represented in this way can be analyzed statistically using the multinomial distribution. Properties of the multinomial distribution and computational difficulties that arise in its application are considered. Special problems involved in formulating hypothesis tests and confidence regions for multivariate discrete distributions are discussed in the context of evaluating vectors of proportions representing DNA ploidy patterns. Construction of tailor-made critical regions for detecting specific types of deviations from normal ploidy patterns is proposed, and a detailed example is given. In this example, two critical regions are compared: a standard critical region, consisting of cases whose probability of occurrence is small, and a diagnostic critical region, consisting of cases considered to be clinically indicative of abnormality. Advantages of the diagnostic critical region are noted.
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011003:Ploidies
chemical_list: D004247:DNA