ON PLANNING OF SAMPLES FOR LINKAGE ANALYSIS - 2 WAYS OF A SAMPLE-SIZEREDUCTION

The sample size required for a given type I and type II errors of link age decision is determined by using the earlier proposed method of the linkage test power estimation [Ginsburg et al., 1996]. Dependence of the sample size on the heterozygotic genotype penetrance is investigat ed. Two approaches to sample size reduction are considered: the choice of marker gene and the special extension of analyzed pedigree structu res. Their effects are quantitatively evaluated in some illustrative s ituations. It is shown that a practical reduction in sample size can b e achieved only when the added part of a pedigree has a special set of phenotypic characteristics in its members. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.