I am interested in applying one of the many indices used to measure heterogeneity and diversity in a particular context.
For instance, I could choose between alpha, beta, gamma or zeta diversity; or I could try gini-simpson, inverse simpson, the generalized entropy index, etc.
The problem is there are so many of them that I feel implementing each one by one is probably not the most efficient approach. Rather, I'd like to learn (quickly, if possible) what each is best at, then implement a few that are likely to be best.
As such, what I'd like to have is a review article of the advantages and disadvantages of each so I can get an intuitive understanding, then perhaps implement the most promising ones.
For context, the problem I want to solve is this:
There is a gene that gets re-arranged to form a fusion product that drives cancer. There are many cases in which, in only one patient, this rearrangement will occur more than once, presumably forming de novo in different cells. I want to measure the diversity of the number of distinct types of this fusion gene that form, and quantify that as a metric of heterogeneity.
Any and all help greatly appreciated, and thank you for reading.
I found an answer that has everything I need. It is [here][1]:
Diversity and Evenness: A Unifying Notation and Its Consequences March 1973Ecology 54(2):427-432 Follow journal DOI: 10.2307/1934352 Mark Oliver Hill
I will close the question once enough time has elapsed for me to do so, and thank you. [1]: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1934352