No, mutant Y does not genetically complement mutant Z. Our field has historically gravitated toward experiments that provide clear-cut “yes” or “no” types of answers. We also address issues related to sample size, normality, outliers, and non-parametric approaches.Īt the first group meeting that I attended as a new worm postdoc (1997, D.S.F.), I heard the following opinion expressed by a senior scientist in the field: “If I need to rely on statistics to prove my point, then I'm not doing the right experiment.” In fact, reading this statement today, many of us might well identify with this point of view. Our chapter includes a description of basic terms and central concepts and also contains in-depth discussions on the analysis of means, proportions, ratios, probabilities, and correlations. Our intent has been to limit theoretical considerations to a necessary minimum and to use common examples as illustrations for statistical analysis. Although the majority of examples are drawn from the field of Caenorhabditis elegans biology, the concepts and practical applications are also relevant to those who work in the disciplines of molecular genetics and cell and developmental biology. This methods chapter is written with such individuals in mind. Unfortunately, many researchers who are otherwise rigorous and thoughtful in their scientific approach lack sufficient knowledge of this field.
This is true both at the level of designing one's own experiments as well as for critically evaluating studies carried out by others.
The proper understanding and use of statistical tools are essential to the scientific enterprise.
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