title: On the estimation of genome-wide heterozygosity using molecular markers.
abstract: Coltman and Slate (2003) recently performed a meta-analysis on studies that investigated the association between genetic variation at microsatellite loci and phenotypic trait variation. One factor not explicitly addressed in their meta-analysis is the actual estimation of genome-wide heterozygosity via molecular markers. Many authors still associate marker-estimated heterozygosity with genome-wide heterozygosity, despite allozyme-based evidence that such correlations are usually very weak or nonexistent. Here, we show that genome-wide heterozygosity is poorly estimated not only by allozymes but also by microsatellite loci and by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Thus, associations between fitness (or other phenotypes) and heterozygosity should be established firmly on causative factors and not on simple correlations.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1159, USA. dewoody@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Dewoody
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dewoody
mesh_terms: D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016678:Genome; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D007527:Isoenzymes