A question on gene expression analysis

Question

[BioMed]

Dear all,

I assume that I have 2 groups: Cancer and Normal samples. Are there any differences when I perform gene expression for Cancer vs Normal and Normal vs Cancer? I would like to use random effects model and compute the combined effect size. If possible, please clarify the differences.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

[Devon Ryan]

"Cancer vs Normal" and "Normal vs. Cancer" will have the same results, with the latter having fold-changes with opposite signs of how people normally think about things.

[BioMed]

Dear Ryan,

You mean it is just about 5 or -5 when we have the opposite comparisons (A to B or B to A), right?

[Devon Ryan]

Correct