Experiment Design Model

The cell array research can be organized in three-level hierarchical data model, as shown in the diagram and explanations below.

Figure 1. Three level data model.

The notations used in the diagram is explained in the following table:

Symbol	Meaning
Dose, Gene, ...	Factors (independent variables)
GFP, OD, ...	Channels (dependent variables)
GFP ~ Dose + Gene	Statistical formula. This particular formulae can be interpreted as “GFP is modeled as a function of Dose and Gene ”

1. Experiment

A single experiment aims to answer one question: how different factors (independent variables) influence channels (dependent variables). The experiment information consists experiment name, user and number of wells for microplates, as well as meta information about factors and channels.

2. Layout

A unique layout is determined by the specific combination of factors in all the wells. As an example, the Factor information associated with a particular layout could be seen as:

Well	Factors	Level
A01	Gene	‘aa’
A02	Gene	‘bb’
...	...
H12	Gene	‘dd’
A01	Dose	10.00
A02	Dose	1.00
...	...
H12	Dose	1.00

3. Plate

A unique plate is foundamental unit of experimetn. Plate information includes the experiment measures. As an example, the Channel information associated with a particular plate can be seen as:

Well	Channels	Time	Value
A01	GFP	00:00:00	10.00
A01	GFP	00:00:05	20.00
...	...	...	...
H12	GFP	02:00:00	25.00
A01	OD	00:00:00	0.10
A01	OD	00:00:05	0.20
...	...	...	...
H12	OD	02:00:00	1.00