Genome Reshuffling for Advanced Intercross Permutation (GRAIP): simulation and permutation for advanced intercross population analysis.
BACKGROUND
Advanced intercross lines (AIL) are segregating populations created using a multi-generation breeding protocol for fine mapping complex trait loci (QTL) in mice and other organisms. Applying QTL mapping methods for intercross and backcross populations, often followed by naïve permutation of individuals and phenotypes, does not account for the effect of AIL family structure in which final generations have been expanded and leads to inappropriately low significance thresholds. The critical problem with naïve mapping approaches in AIL populations is that the individual is not an exchangeable unit.


RESULTS
The effect of family structure has immediate implications for the optimal AIL creation (many crosses, few animals per cross, and population expansion before the final generation) and we discuss these and the utility of AIL populations for QTL fine mapping. We also describe Genome Reshuffling for Advanced Intercross Permutation, (GRAIP) a method for analyzing AIL data that accounts for family structure. GRAIP permutes a more interchangeable unit in the final generation crosses - the parental genome - and simulating regeneration of a permuted AIL population based on exchanged parental identities. GRAIP determines appropriate genome-wide significance thresholds and locus-specific P-values for AILs and other populations with similar family structures. We contrast GRAIP with naïve permutation using a large densely genotyped mouse AIL population (1333 individuals from 32 crosses). A naïve permutation using coat color as a model phenotype demonstrates high false-positive locus identification and uncertain significance levels, which are corrected using GRAIP. GRAIP also detects an established hippocampus weight locus and a new locus, Hipp9a.


CONCLUSIONS
GRAIP determines appropriate genome-wide significance thresholds and locus-specific P-values for AILs and other populations with similar family structures. The effect of family structure has immediate implications for the optimal AIL creation and we discuss these and the utility of AIL populations.
Peirce
Jeremy L
JL
Center for Neuroscience, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America. jpeirce@utmem.edu
Broman
Karl W
KW
Lu
Lu
L
Chesler
Elissa J
EJ
Zhou
Guomin
G
Airey
David C
DC
Birmingham
Amanda E
AE
Williams
Robert W
RW
D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development; D007178:Inbreeding; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009929:Organ Size; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D012984:Software