Topic > Pedigree Linkage Analysis - 1669

Pedigrees are often used to determine the mode of inheritance (e.g. dominant, recessive, etc.) of genetic diseases. They are also essential for link analysis. Linkage analysis is the analysis of linkage in inheritance between genes at different loci based on observational phenotypes and known genealogical structure (Palmer, 2011). Linkage between loci is the tendency for alleles at two or more neighboring loci on the chromosome to be passed together to the next generation. So, generally, the closer two genes are on a chromosome, the more likely they are to show a link. Genes located on different chromosomes, for example, show no links. Genetic linkage studies aim to estimate the distance between a set of markers (polymorphic DNA sequences with known position) and a putative genetic trait by estimating recombination fractions. If a disease tends to be transmitted to offspring along with specific markers, then it can be concluded that the gene or genes responsible for the disease are located near the chromosome of these markers. The disease could be a Mendelian disease (caused by one gene) or a complex disease, caused by the action of many