ESTIMATION OF ALLELIC FREQUENCIES USING P EDIGREE SAMPLES

Maximum likelihood (ML) estimations of gene frequency,deduced from dat a on small pedigree samples, are considered. It is demonstrated that a range (''gap'') of possible values of gene frequency exists, within w hich no ML frequency estimation falls. The dependence of the size of t his range on sample size is studied in samples consisting of nuclear p edigrees and pedigrees of a more complex structure. The practical impo rtance of the effect revealed is discussed.