Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset

Abstract The surge in high‐throughput technologies has empowered the acquisition of vast genomic datasets, prompting the search for genetic markers and biomarkers relevant to complex traits. However, grappling with the inherent complexities of high dimensionality and sparsity within these datasets p...

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Main Authors: Hawlader A. Al‐Mamun, Monica F. Danilevicz, Jacob I. Marsh, Cedric Gondro, David Edwards
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:The Plant Genome
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20503
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author Hawlader A. Al‐Mamun
Monica F. Danilevicz
Jacob I. Marsh
Cedric Gondro
David Edwards
author_facet Hawlader A. Al‐Mamun
Monica F. Danilevicz
Jacob I. Marsh
Cedric Gondro
David Edwards
author_sort Hawlader A. Al‐Mamun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The surge in high‐throughput technologies has empowered the acquisition of vast genomic datasets, prompting the search for genetic markers and biomarkers relevant to complex traits. However, grappling with the inherent complexities of high dimensionality and sparsity within these datasets poses formidable hurdles. The immense number of features and their potential redundancy demand efficient strategies for extracting pertinent information and identifying significant markers. Feature selection is important in large genomic data as it helps in enhancing interpretability and computational efficiency. This study focuses on addressing these challenges through a comprehensive investigation into genomic feature selection methodologies, employing a rich soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) dataset comprising 966 lines with over 5.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. Emphasizing the “small n large p” dilemma prevalent in contemporary genomic studies, we compared the efficacy of traditional genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) with two prominent machine learning tools, random forest and extreme gradient boosting, in pinpointing predictive features. Utilizing the expansive soybean dataset, we assessed the performance of these methodologies in selecting features that optimize predictive modeling for various phenotypes. By constructing predictive models based on the selected features, we ascertain the comparative prediction accuracies, thereby illuminating the strengths and limitations of these feature selection methodologies in the realm of genomic data analysis.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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series The Plant Genome
spelling doaj-art-a8d44b03c3ed4b8bbadd22d129596bdd2025-08-20T01:50:06ZengWileyThe Plant Genome1940-33722025-03-01181n/an/a10.1002/tpg2.20503Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean datasetHawlader A. Al‐Mamun0Monica F. Danilevicz1Jacob I. Marsh2Cedric Gondro3David Edwards4Centre for Applied Bioinformatics and School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia AustraliaCentre for Applied Bioinformatics and School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia AustraliaDepartment of Biology University of North Carolina Chapel Hill North Carolina USADepartment of Animal Science Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USACentre for Applied Bioinformatics and School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia AustraliaAbstract The surge in high‐throughput technologies has empowered the acquisition of vast genomic datasets, prompting the search for genetic markers and biomarkers relevant to complex traits. However, grappling with the inherent complexities of high dimensionality and sparsity within these datasets poses formidable hurdles. The immense number of features and their potential redundancy demand efficient strategies for extracting pertinent information and identifying significant markers. Feature selection is important in large genomic data as it helps in enhancing interpretability and computational efficiency. This study focuses on addressing these challenges through a comprehensive investigation into genomic feature selection methodologies, employing a rich soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) dataset comprising 966 lines with over 5.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. Emphasizing the “small n large p” dilemma prevalent in contemporary genomic studies, we compared the efficacy of traditional genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) with two prominent machine learning tools, random forest and extreme gradient boosting, in pinpointing predictive features. Utilizing the expansive soybean dataset, we assessed the performance of these methodologies in selecting features that optimize predictive modeling for various phenotypes. By constructing predictive models based on the selected features, we ascertain the comparative prediction accuracies, thereby illuminating the strengths and limitations of these feature selection methodologies in the realm of genomic data analysis.https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20503
spellingShingle Hawlader A. Al‐Mamun
Monica F. Danilevicz
Jacob I. Marsh
Cedric Gondro
David Edwards
Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
The Plant Genome
title Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
title_full Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
title_fullStr Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
title_full_unstemmed Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
title_short Exploring genomic feature selection: A comparative analysis of GWAS and machine learning algorithms in a large‐scale soybean dataset
title_sort exploring genomic feature selection a comparative analysis of gwas and machine learning algorithms in a large scale soybean dataset
url https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20503
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