The Use of Bayesian Analysis of PCR-derived Genomic DNA Sequences to Enable a Biologically Relevant Interpretation of Immunoglobulin Variable Region Gene Expression

We analyzed by means of polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and DNA sequencing techniques the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes of bone marrow B lineage cells. We first formulated an explanatory model to guide understanding of the biological mechanisms determining both the size of the total available pool of relevant genes and clonal expansion following heavy chain gene rearrangement. We then followed Boxʹs paradigm of criticism and estimation to interpret our experimental findings.