Address of Corresponding Author

Hum Hered 2005;60:119-122 (DOI: 10.1159/000088914)

  Key Words

• Simulation
• Pedigree structure
• Type I error
• Empirical p values

  Abstract

With the widespread availability of SNP genotype data, there is great interest in analyzing pedigree haplotype data. Intermarker linkage disequilibrium for microsatellite markers is usually low due to their physical distance; however, for dense maps of SNP markers, there can be strong linkage disequilibrium between marker loci. Linkage analysis (parametric and nonparametric) and family-based association studies are currently being carried out using dense maps of SNP marker loci. Monte Carlo methods are often used for both linkage and association studies; however, to date there are no programs available which can generate haplotype and/or genotype data consisting of a large number of loci for pedigree structures. SimPed is a program that quickly generates haplotype and/or genotype data for pedigrees of virtually any size and complexity. Marker data either in linkage disequilibrium or equilibrium can be generated for greater than 20,000 diallelic or multiallelic marker loci. Haplotypes and/or genotypes are generated for pedigree structures using specified genetic map distances and haplotype and/or allele frequencies. The simulated data generated by SimPed is useful for a variety of purposes, including evaluating methods that estimate haplotype frequencies for pedigree data, evaluating type I error due to intermarker linkage disequilibrium and estimating empirical p values for linkage and family-based association studies.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

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  Author Contacts

Suzanne M. Leal, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
One Baylor Plaza, N1619.01
Houston, TX 77025 (USA)
Tel. +1 713 798 4011, Fax +1 713 798 5373, E-Mail sleal@bcm.tmc.edu

  Article Information

Received: July 25, 2005
Accepted: August 8, 2005
Published online: October 13, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 20

  Publication Details

Human Heredity (International Journal of Human and Medical Genetics)

Vol. 60, No. 2, Year 2005 (Cover Date: 2005)

Journal Editor: Devoto, M. (Wilmington, Del.)
ISSN: 0001-5652 (print), 1423-0062 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/hhe

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