MAP MANAGER QTX: PORTABLE SOFTWARE FOR MAPPING QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI

Roswell Park Cancer Institute Buffalo, NY 14263

Map Manager QTX is a new version of software for mapping both Mendelian and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in experimental crosses. Like the previously described Map Manager XP (1), it offers a rich graphic user interface and is available in versions for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS operating systems. Its functions for mapping Mendelian markers include rapid automatic methods for separating newly typed loci into linkage groups and for distributing newly typed loci among previously defined linkage groups. For crosses which show strong segregation distortion, it provides linkage tests and map distance functions which are resistant to the effects of differential viability. Like Map Manager QT (2), it uses regression methods to map QTLs, but it supports more types of crosses than Map Manager QT. In particular, it supports advanced backcrosses and advanced intercrosses, both for mapping Mendelian markers and for mapping QTLs. It identifies QTLs by association with single marker loci, by simple interval mapping, and by composite interval mapping, and it estimates empirical significance values by permutation methods. Map Manager QTX allows the user to define subsets of loci and subsets of progeny individuals and to analyze these subsets separately without creating physically separate data sets. Map Manager QTX will open data files from all previous members of the Map Manager family, and files for the Windows and Mac OS versions can be opened by either version. Map Manager QTX will import and export Mapmaker and Mapmaker/QTL files and it will export data in QTL Cartographer format. Map Manager QTX and its documentation will be available from the Map Manager Web Site. 1. Manly KF, Cudmore, Jr RH (1988) Map Manager XP. Abstracts of Plant & Animal Genome VI, San Diego, CA. 2. Manly KF, Olson JM (1999) Overview of QTL mapping software and introduction to Map Manager QT. Mammalian Genome 10: 327-334