Replication of genetic linkage by follow-up of previously studied pedigrees

Abstract

Independent replication of linkage in previously studied pedigrees is desirable when genetic heterogeneity is suspected or when the illness is very rare. When the likelihood of the new data in this type of replication study is computed as conditional on the previously reported linkage results, it can be considered independent. We describe a simulation method using the SLINK program in which the initial data are fixed and newly genotyped individuals are simulated under theta = .01 and theta = .50. These give appropriate lod score criteria for rejection and acceptance of linkage in the follow-up study, which take into account the original marker genotypes in the data. An estimate of the power to detect linkage in the follow-up data is also generated.