Likelihood Models for Multivariate Traits in Human Genetics1

✍ Scribed by George E. Bonney; Robert C. Elston

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 552 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0323-3847
• DOI: 10.1002/bimj.4710270511

✦ Synopsis

The formulation of likelihood functions for multivariate genetic traits in humans is discussed, and exact computing formulas presented for families and simple pedigrees. The model described incorporates all the features of the original ELSTON and STEWART (1971) formulation and t h a t of LANGE et al. (1976LANGE et al. ( , 1983)); the integration of the two models is achieved through the introduction of quantities we call "relatedness coefficients." These are subsequently used to define "status indices," which turn out t o be the key t o the computational problem, for the polygenic and mixed models of genetic transmission. The highest order of matrices that enter into t h e calculation is p x p for a p-variate trait, instead of np xnp, where n is the size of the pedigree. The expressions that are presented can be extended t o complex pedigree structures.