title: Collection of clinical and epidemiological data for linkage studies.
abstract: Accurate assessment of the genetic basis for a disorder is necessary to determine if linkage studies will be meaningful. This unit provides an overview of key concepts and presents guidelines for collecting diagnostic, epidemiological, and genealogical data from potential study participants. The commentary discusses methods for evaluating evidence of genetic versus environmental influences in a disease and for assessing individual pedigrees.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farrer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors