STATISTICAL-METHODS FOR LINKAGE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX TRAITS FROM HIGH-RESOLUTION MAPS OF IDENTITY BY DESCENT

A multilocus model for complex traits is described that generalizes th e additive and multiplicative models and hence allows simultaneously f or both heterogeneity and gene interaction (epistasis). Statistical me thods of linkage analysis are discussed under the assumption that iden tity by descent data from a dense set of polymorphic markers are avail able. Three methods, single locus search, simultaneous search and cond itional search, are described and compared.