Exact genetic linkage computations for general pedigrees.
BACKGROUND
Genetic linkage analysis is a useful statistical tool for mapping disease genes and for associating functionality of genes with their location on the chromosome. There is a need for a program that computes multipoint likelihood on general pedigrees with many markers that also deals with two-locus disease models.


RESULTS
In this paper we present algorithms for performing exact multipoint likelihood calculations on general pedigrees with a large number of highly polymorphic markers, taking into account a variety of disease models. We have implemented these algorithms in a new computer program called SUPERLINK which outperforms leading linkage software with regards to functionality, speed, memory requirements and extensibility.
Fishelson
M
M
Computer Science Department, Technion, Haifa 32000, Israel. fmaayan@cs.technion.ac.il
Geiger
D
D
D000465:Algorithms; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010375:Pedigree; D010802:Phylogeny; D012984:Software