Categorization of 34 computational methods to detect spatially variable genes from spatially resolved transcriptomics data
Guanao Yan, Shuo Harper Hua, Jingyi Jessica Li
Abstract
In the analysis of spatially resolved transcriptomics data, detecting spatially variable genes (SVGs) is crucial. Numerous computational methods exist, but varying SVG definitions and methodologies lead to incomparable results. We review 34 state-of-the-art methods, classifying SVGs into three categories: overall, cell-type-specific, and spatial-domain-marker SVGs. Our review explains the intuitions underlying these methods, summarizes their applications, and categorizes the hypothesis tests they use in the trade-off between generality and specificity for SVG detection. We discuss challenges in SVG detection and propose future directions for improvement. Our review offers insights for method developers and users, advocating for category-specific benchmarking. In spatial transcriptomics data analysis, identifying spatially variable genes (SVGs) is crucial for understanding tissue organization and function. The authors categorize 34 computational methods for SVG detection, exploring their definitions, methodologies—including statistical approaches—and applications, while proposing future research directions.