Genetics, Vol. 163, 1147-1151, March 2003, Copyright © 2003

Neutrality Tests Using DNA Polymorphism From Multiple Samples

Haipeng Lib,c, Yunwu Zhangc, Ya-Ping Zhangc, and Yun-Xin Fub,a
a Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Yunnan University, Kunming 650991, People's Republic of China,
b Human Genetics Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77030
c Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Genome Diversity, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China

Corresponding author: Yun-Xin Fu, UT School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030., yunxin.fu{at}uth.tmc.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: G. B. GOLDING

The polymorphism of a gene or a locus is studied with increasing frequency by multiple laboratories or the same group at different times. Such practice results in polymorphism being revealed by different samples at different regions of the locus. Tests of neutrality have been widely conducted for polymorphism data but commonly used statistical tests cannot be applied directly to such data. This article provides a procedure to conduct a neutrality test and details are given for two commonly used tests. Applying the two new tests to the chemokine-receptor gene (CCR5) in humans, we found that the hypothesis that all mutations are selectively neutral cannot explain the observed pattern of DNA polymorphism.




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