Figure 1.

Major processes generating metabolomic data. The processes include (1) sample preparation, (2) data acquisition, and (3) data pre-processing. The resultant data go through multi-step downstream processes including (4) statistical data analysis such as principal component analysis, (5) data interpretation such as pathway analysis, (6) generation of testable hypothesis and construction of the model representing the biological phenomenon, and (7) experimental validation of hypothesis and building models.