If we applied a threshold of mean average importance score of 3 to select the topmost determinative genes among the ones identified (Additional file 1: Table S1), we would identify LOC100506258, ELOA3C, TNFRSF11B, STAT3, DDO as the topmost determinative genes for the classification of a cerebellum sample as ALS or healthy. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.