Mtreemix: a software package for learning and using mixture models of mutagenetic trees.

Abstract

Mixture models of mutagenetic trees constitute a class of probabilistic models for describing evolutionary processes that are characterized by the accumulation of permanent genetic changes. They have been applied to model the accumulation of chromosomal gains and losses in tumor development and the development of drug resistance-associated mutations in the HIV genome.Mtreemix is a software package for estimating mutagenetic trees mixture models from observed cross-sectional data and for using these models for predictions. We provide programs for model fitting, model selection, simulation, likelihood computation and waiting time estimation. Mtreemix, including source code, documentation, sample data files and precompiled Solaris and Linux binaries, is freely available for non-commercial users at http://mtreemix.bioinf.mpi-sb.mpg.de/