Multiple TDT

Multiple TDT performs transmission/disequilibrium (TDT-type) tests on nuclear-family genetic data using multiple tightly linked markers simultaneously to detect linkage and association for qualitative and quantitative traits across diverse family structures.

Key Features:

• Extended Applicability: Supports analyses of families with both parents available, families with one parent available, and sibships without parental data.
• Linkage in the Presence of Linkage Disequilibrium: Implements novel TDT-type tests designed for linkage analysis when linkage disequilibrium is present.
• No Distributional Assumptions Required: Handles quantitative traits without requiring assumptions about trait distributions.
• Simultaneous Marker Analysis: Analyzes several tightly linked markers concurrently to improve power for detecting linkage to unobserved quantitative trait loci.
• Data Integration Across Family Types: Combines data from multiple family structures into a single test statistic to maximize use of available genetic information.

Scientific Applications:

• Gene Mapping: Detection and localization of disease-associated genes using family-based linkage and association signals from multiple markers.
• Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis: Identification of QTLs underlying quantitative traits without relying on distributional assumptions.

Methodology:

Proposes new classes of TDT-type tests tailored to different family structures and trait types and validates these tests via simulation studies.