title: Sensitized polygenic trait analysis.
abstract: Genetic variation in many biological processes and evolutionary adaptations is caused by polygenes--genes that act in combination to affect a particular trait. Despite the recent identification of several polygenes, many remain to be found, suggesting that new experimental and analytical methods are needed to facilitate their discovery. Here we discuss sensitized polygenetic trait analysis, a method that has emerged recently for simplifying the genetic analysis of polygenic traits. The method uses a known single gene mutation in linkage testing crosses to 'sensitize' the analysis. By increasing the frequency of affected individuals in segregating populations, linkages are more readily detected. This method has considerable potential, especially given the increasing variety of mutations that can be used to sensitize the genetic analysis of polygenic traits.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Cancer Genetics, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nadeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018237:Germinoma / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance; D009154:Mutation; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics