title: Efficiency robust tests for mapping quantitative trait loci using extremely discordant sib pairs.
abstract: In 1972, Haseman and Elston proposed a pioneering regression method for mapping quantitative trait loci using randomly selected sib pairs. Recently, the statistical power of their method was shown to be increased when extremely discordant sib pairs are ascertained. While the precise genetic model may not be known, prior information that constrains IBD probabilities is often available. We investigate properties of tests that are robust against model uncertainty and show that the power gain from further constraining IBD probabilities is marginal. The additional linkage information contained in the trait values can be incorporated by combining the Haseman-Elston regression method and a robust allele sharing test.
authors.affiliation: Biometric Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md. 20892, USA. freidlin@ctep.nci.nih.gov
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freidlin
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zhaohai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gastwirth
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D035781:Siblings