Plant & Animal Genomes XI Conference Plant & Animal Genomes XI ConferenceJanuary 11-15, 2003
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Bioinformatics: Software
Computer: Demo Only
We are developing a multipurpose user-friendly mapping package that includes a broad spectrum of tools for constructing multipoint genetic maps and QTL analysis. The package proved to be an efficient platform for teaching based on real data analysis and rich simulation instruments and models. MultiQTL allows multiple-trait multilocus analysis with maximum flexibility in formulating and testing genetic hypotheses. The package includes tools for data transformation, testing genotype-environmental interactions, using selective genotyping for single- and multiple-trait analysis, fitting co-segregating QTLs, analysis of linked QTLs and testing various hypotheses about intralocus allele interactions (dominance, overdominance) and epistasis, discriminating linkage vs. pleiotropy, etc. A new approach of robust interval QTL mapping based on the method of moments (MM) is being implemented. It does not require any specification of the form of residual distribution (e.g., normality). We have also developed multiple-trait versions of MM-based mapping. Permutation tests, bootstrapping, jackknifing, and Monte-Carlo simulations are used to estimate the significance, test power, and confidence intervals of the parameter estimates. Significance tests are allowed on the level of chromosome and entire genome. The package also includes tools for approximate multiple-trait analysis of linked QTLs, with more than two QTLs per chromosome. The MultiQTL team is preparing an efficient (and very fast) user-friendly program for multilocus marker mapping that allows ordering many hundreds of co-dominant and dominant markers with simultaneous control of reliability of derived multilocus maps. Likewise, new tools are underway for fine QTL mapping and cost-efficient QTL mapping based on DNA pooling analysis.