Markov Bases of Binary Graph Models

This paper is concerned with the topological invariant of a graph given by the maximum degree of a Markov basis element for the corresponding graph model for binary contingency tables. We describe a degree four Markov basis for the model when the underlying graph is a cycle and generalize this result to the complete bipartite graph K_2,n. We also give a combinatorial classification of degree two and three Markov basis moves as well as a Buchberger-free algorithm to compute moves of arbitrary given degree. Finally, we compute the algebraic degree of the model when the underlying graph is a forest.AMS Subject Classification: 05C99, 13P10, 62Q05.