Marginal Histogram
Chart overview
A marginal histogram plot (also called a joint distribution plot) adds histograms or kernel density estimates to the top and right margins of a central scatter plot, providing a complete picture of the bivariate relationship.
Key points
- The central scatter shows the joint distribution and correlation structure between two variables, while the marginal panels reveal the univariate distribution of each variable independently - including skewness, modality, and outliers.
- This composite figure is more informative than either the scatter or histograms alone.
- In biology, marginal histograms are used to display the relationship between two experimental measurements - such as protein abundance vs.
Example Visualization
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Generate publication-ready marginal histograms with AI in seconds. No coding required – just describe your data and let AI do the work.
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"Create a marginal histogram figure from my proteogenomic data comparing mRNA expression and protein abundance. Place the scatter plot in the center, a histogram on the top margin for mRNA, and a histogram on the right margin for protein. Color points by sample tissue type. Add a Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value annotation to the scatter. Use a shared color palette between the scatter and marginal histograms. Format for publication at 300 DPI."
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Python Code Example
Console Output
Figure saved: plotivy-marginal-histogram.png
Common Use Cases
- 1Proteogenomics: comparing matched mRNA and protein abundance across samples from TCGA or CPTAC
- 2Metabolomics: joint distribution of two metabolite concentrations colored by patient disease group
- 3Flow cytometry biplot: displaying two channel intensities with marginal distributions per population
- 4Ecological data: body size vs. metabolic rate scatter with taxon-colored density margins
Pro Tips
Align the axes of the marginal panels precisely with the central scatter for accurate visual mapping
Use the same color scheme for grouped data in both the scatter and the marginal histograms
Add a regression line or ellipse of concentration to the scatter to guide interpretation of the correlation
Consider using KDE instead of histograms for the margins when the sample size is small to smooth out noise
Scientific Chart Selection Cheat Sheet
Not sure whether to use a Violin Plot, Box Plot, or Ridge Plot? Download our single-page reference mapping the most-used scientific chart types, exactly when to use them, and the core Matplotlib/Seaborn functions.