The role of linkage studies for common diseases.
Linkage analysis when applied to common diseases has had limited success in mapping the genes contributing to them. We present a genealogic approach applied to the relatively isolated population of Iceland. We use an affecteds-only, allele-sharing method--which does not specify any particular inheritance model--implemented in the new statistical program, Allegro, which calculates lod scores based on multipoint calculations. We describe how this approach has helped us to map a gene contributing to the common late-onset form of Parkinson's disease to statistical significance.
Gulcher
J R
JR
CODE genetics, Incorporated, Lynghals 1, 110, Reykjavik, Iceland. jgulcher@decode.is
Kong
A
A
Stefansson
K
K
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004194:Disease; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000502:physiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D010375:Pedigree