PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kao, Chen-Hung
AU  - Zeng, Zhao-Bang
TI  - Modeling Epistasis of Quantitative Trait Loci Using Cockerham's Model
DP  - 2002 Mar 01
TA  - Genetics
PG  - 1243--1261
VI  - 160
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.genetics.org/content/160/3/1243.short
4100  - http://www.genetics.org/content/160/3/1243.full
SO  - Genetics2002 Mar 01; 160
AB  - We use the orthogonal contrast scales proposed by Cockerham to construct a genetic model, called Cockerham's model, for studying epistasis between genes. The properties of Cockerham's model in modeling and mapping epistatic genes under linkage equilibrium and disequilibrium are investigated and discussed. Because of its orthogonal property, Cockerham's model has several advantages in partitioning genetic variance into components, interpreting and estimating gene effects, and application to quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping when compared to other models, and thus it can facilitate the study of epistasis between genes and be readily used in QTL mapping. The issues of QTL mapping with epistasis are also addressed. Real and simulated examples are used to illustrate Cockerham's model, compare different models, and map for epistatic QTL. Finally, we extend Cockerham's model to multiple loci and discuss its applications to QTL mapping.