Gene-set enrichment tests whether members of a defined biological set concentrate toward one end of a ranked result rather than evaluating genes independently.
01
Ranking carries information
A full ranked list can preserve weak coordinated signals that a strict significant-gene cut-off would discard.
02
Gene sets overlap
Pathways share genes and vary in quality, size and specificity. Similar enriched terms may reflect the same underlying signal.
03
Enrichment is contextual
Results depend on the ranking statistic, gene universe, database version and phenotype labels. They generate interpretation and hypotheses, not causal proof.
