Evaluating the performance of microarray segmentation algorithms

Although numerous algorithms have been developed for microarray segmentation, extensive comparisons between the algorithms have acquired far less attention. In this study, we evaluate the performance of nine microarray segmentation algorithms. Using both simulated and real microarray experiments, we overcome the challenges in performance evaluation, arising from the lack of ground-truth information. The usage of simulated experiments allows us to analyze the segmentation accuracy on a single pixel level as is commonly done in traditional image processing studies. With real experiments, we indirectly measure the segmentation performance, identify significant differences between the algorithms, and study the characteristics of the resulting gene expression data.