A genetical genomics approach to genome scans increases power for QTL mapping.

ABSTRACT: We describe a method for integrating gene expression information into genome scans and show that this can substantially increase the statistical power of QTL mapping. The method has three stages. First, standard clustering methods identify small (size 5-20) groups of genes with similar expression patterns. Second, each gene group is tested for a causative genetic locus shared with the clinical trait of interest. This is done using an EM algorithm approach that treats genotype at the putative causative locus as an unobserved variable and combines expression information from all of the genes in the group to infer genotype information at the locus. Finally, expression QTL (eQTL) are mapped for each gene group that shares a causative locus with the clinical trait. Such eQTL are candidates for

SUBMITTER: Sun G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3063683 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature