Patent ID: 8050870

Claim:
A system for identifying associations between variables, the system stored on one or more computer-readable media, the system comprising: one or more processors; memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory comprising: a model builder configured for each of one or more target variables to: receive: observed data relating to the target variable and one or more predictor variables across a set of instances; and data relating to a phylogenetic tree; and build: a null directed acyclic graphical (DAG) model, wherein the target variable evolves downstream from the root nodes to the tips of the phylogenetic tree; and a non-null directed acyclic graphical (DAG) model, wherein the target variable evolves downstream from the root nodes to the tips of the phylogenetic tree and the target variables at the tips of the phylogenetic tree are influenced by the one or more predictor variables but the target variables are not influenced at other portions of the phylogenetic tree; and an association identifier configured to assess a strength of association between the target variable and the one or more predictor variables by determining how much the non-null DAG model better explains the observed data than the null DAG model.