A model-based approach for identifying signatures of ancient balancing selection in genetic data.

ABSTRACT: While much effort has focused on detecting positive and negative directional selection in the human genome, relatively little work has been devoted to balancing selection. This lack of attention is likely due to the paucity of sophisticated methods for identifying sites under balancing selection. Here we develop two composite likelihood ratio tests for detecting balancing selection. Using simulations, we show that these methods outperform competing methods under a variety of assumptions and demographic models. We apply the new methods to whole-genome human data, and find a number of previously-identified loci with strong evidence of balancing selection, including several HLA genes. Additionally, we find evidence for many novel candidates, the strongest of which is FANK1, an imprinted gene

SUBMITTER: DeGiorgio M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4140648 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature