Affecteds-only linkage methods are not a panacea

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · American Journal of Human Genetics

OSTI ID:285073

Greenberg, D A; Hodge, S E ^[1]; Vieland, V J ^[2]; Spence, M A ^[3]

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1. New York State Psychiatric Inst., NY (United States)
2. Univ. of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (United States)
3. Univ. of California, Orange, CA (United States)

Affected-sib-pair (ASP) methods and their variations, such as the affected-pedigree-member (APM) method, have become preferred methods of analysis. Three reasons are usually given as the advantages of ASP/APM methods over LOD-score analysis (likelihood-maximization techniques). First, the most frequently cited is that ASP/APM analysis is non-parametric, whereas LOD-score analysis requires specification of a genetic model. A related consideration is that penetrance is not a confounding factor in ASP/APM analysis, as it is with LOD scores. Second, ASP/APM methods require the collection of data from only a limited number of family members - and, presumably, from those most motivated to help research in the disease, i.e., those affected. A third reason concerns the ease and intuitive appeal of the theory and calculations. Sib-pair analysis is easily understood and can be done on the {open_quotes}back of the envelope.{close_quotes} Except for the more sophisticated ASP methods, one need only count the numbers of sibs sharing no, one, or two alleles in common and apply conventional statistics, to get an answer (although APM methods do require more sophisticated analysis). LOD-score analysis, on the other hand, appears more complex, requiring likelihood maximization, computers and sophisticated programs, and the assumption of a mode of inheritance. 32 refs.

• OSTI ID: 285073
• Journal Information: American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics Vol. 58; ISSN AJHGAG; ISSN 0002-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
EVALUATION
GENES
GENETIC MAPPING
GENETICS
HEREDITARY DISEASES
STATISTICAL MODELS