Meta-analysis of SNPs involved in variance heterogeneity using Levene's test for equal variances.

ABSTRACT: Meta-analysis is a commonly used approach to increase the sample size for genome-wide association searches when individual studies are otherwise underpowered. Here, we present a meta-analysis procedure to estimate the heterogeneity of the quantitative trait variance attributable to genetic variants using Levene's test without needing to exchange individual-level data. The meta-analysis of Levene's test offers the opportunity to combine the considerable sample size of a genome-wide meta-analysis to identify the genetic basis of phenotypic variability and to prioritize single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. The use of Levene's test has several advantages, including robustness to departure from the normality assumption, freedom from the influen

SUBMITTER: Deng WQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3925287 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature