Significance Of Quantitative Trait Loci Research Articles

Positional Gene Cloning in Experimental Populations.

Positional cloning is a technique that identifies a trait-associated gene based on its location in the genome and involves methods such as linkage analysis, association mapping, and bioinformatics. This approach can be used for gene identification even when little is known about the molecular basis of the trait. Vast majority of traits are regulated by multiple genomic loci called quantitative trait loci (QTL). We describe experimental populations and designs that can be used for positional cloning, including backcrosses, intercrosses, and heterogeneous stocks, and advantages and disadvantages of different approaches. Once the phenotype and genotype of each individual in an experimental population have been determined, QTL identification can be accomplished. We describe the statistical tools used to identify the existence, location, and significance of QTLs. These different methods have advantages and disadvantages to consider when selecting the appropriate model to be used, which is briefly discussed.Although the objective of QTL mapping is to identify genomic regions associated with a trait, the ultimate goal is to identify the gene and the genetic variation (which is often quantitative trait nucleotide, QTN) or haplotype that is responsible for the phenotype. By discovering the function of causative variants or haplotypes we can understand the molecular changes that lead to the phenotype. We briefly describe how the genomic sequences can be exploited to identify QTNs and how these can be validated in congenic strains and functionally tested to understand their influence on phenotype expression.

Assessing the Significance of Quantitative Trait Loci in Replicable Mapping Populations

Replicable populations, such as panels of recombinant inbred or doubled haploid lines, are convenient resources for the mapping of QTL. To increase mapping power, replications are often collected within each RI line and a common way to analyze such data is to include in the QTL model only a single measurement from each line that represents the average among the replicates (a line means model). An obvious, but seldom explored, alternative, is to include every replicate in the model (a full data model). Here, we use simulations to compare these two approaches. Further, we propose an extension of the standard permutation procedure that is required to correctly control the type I error in mapping populations with nested structure.

Assessing the Significance of Quantitative Trait Loci in Replicable Mapping Populations

Assessing the Significance of Quantitative Trait Loci in Replicable Mapping Populations

Reply: Inappropriate Choice of the Experimental Unit Leads to a Dramatic Overestimation of the Significance of Quantitative Trait Loci for Prepulse Inhibition and Startle Response in Recombinant Congenic Mice

Reply: Inappropriate Choice of the Experimental Unit Leads to a Dramatic Overestimation of the Significance of Quantitative Trait Loci for Prepulse Inhibition and Startle Response in Recombinant Congenic Mice

돼지의 QTL 검색을 위한 유의적 임계수준(Threshold) 결정

Interval mapping using microsatellite markers was employed to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the experimental cross between Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs. In order to derive critical values (CV) for test statistics for declaring significance of QTL, permutation test (PT) of Churchill and Doerge method(1994) and the analytical method(LK) of Lander and Kruglyak(1995) were used by each trait and chromosome. 525 progeny phenotypes of five traits(carcass weight, loin eye area, marbling score, cholesterol content, last back fat thickness) and genotypes of 125 markers covering the genome were used. Data were analyzed by line cross regression interval mapping with an F-test every by 1cM. PT CV were based on 10,000 permutations. CV at genome-wise test were 10.5 for LK and ranged from 8.1 to 8.3 for PT, depending on the trait. CV, differed substantially between methods, led to different numbers of quantitative trait loci (QTL) to be detected. PT results in the least stringent CV compared at the same % level.