GEE-based SNP set association test for continuous and discrete traits in family-based association studies.

ABSTRACT: Family-based genetic association studies of related individuals provide opportunities to detect genetic variants that complement studies of unrelated individuals. Most statistical methods for family association studies for common variants are single marker based, which test one SNP a time. In this paper, we consider testing the effect of an SNP set, e.g., SNPs in a gene, in family studies, for both continuous and discrete traits. Specifically, we propose a generalized estimating equations (GEEs) based kernel association test, a variance component based testing method, to test for the association between a phenotype and multiple variants in an SNP set jointly using family samples. The proposed approach allows for both continuous and discrete traits, where the correlation among family member

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4007511 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature