Gamete-competition models

Am J Hum Genet. 2000 Mar;66(3):1168-72. doi: 10.1086/302826.

Abstract

The gamete-competition model is an application of the Bradley-Terry model for ranking of sports teams. If allele i of a marker locus is assigned parameter taui>0, then the probability that a parent with heterozygous genotype i/j transmits allele i is Pr(i/j-->)=tau(i)/(tau(i) + tau(j). Mendelian segregation corresponds to the choice tau(i)=1 for all i. To test whether Mendelian segregation is true, one can estimate the tau(i) from pedigree data and perform a likelihood-ratio test under the constraint that one tau(i) equals 1. Although this procedure generates an interesting method for performance of segregation analysis with a marker locus, its real promise lies in generalization of the transmission/disequilibrium test. Quantitative as well as qualitative outcomes can be considered. The gamete-competition model uses full pedigree data and gives an estimate of the strength of transmission distortion to affected children for each allele. Covariates are incorporated by rewriting of tau(i)=exp(beta(t)x(k)), where beta is a parameter vector and xk is a covariate vector for the kth transmitted gamete. Examples of covariates include disease-severity indicators for the child, sex of the child, or repeat number for tandem-repeat alleles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters*
  • Alleles
  • Chromosome Mapping / methods*
  • Chromosome Mapping / statistics & numerical data
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / genetics
  • Germ Cells / metabolism
  • Germ Cells / physiology*
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Linkage Disequilibrium / genetics
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic*
  • Parents
  • Pedigree
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
  • Phosphoglucomutase*
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying*
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
  • Receptors, Drug / genetics
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Sulfonylurea Receptors

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Potassium Channels
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying
  • Receptors, Drug
  • Sulfonylurea Receptors
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • PGM1 protein, human
  • Phosphoglucomutase