Detecting epistatic interactions contributing to quantitative traits

Genet Epidemiol. 2004 Sep;27(2):141-52. doi: 10.1002/gepi.20006.

Abstract

The restricted partition method (RPM) is a partitioning algorithm for examining multi-locus genotypes as (potentially non-additive) predictors of a quantitative trait. The motivating application was to develop a robust method to examine quantitative phenotypes for epistasis (gene-gene interactions), but the method can be applied without modification to gene-environment interactions. Simulation results indicate that the method provides an efficient way to identify loci contributing epistatically to a quantitative trait, even if the loci have no single locus effects. Statistical significance can be estimated through permutation testing. An example using real data involving the metabolism of a chemotherapy drug is included for illustration. Although the examples in this article involve 2-locus interactions, the RPM is computationally feasible for the analysis of more than two loci or factors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Epistasis, Genetic*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic
  • Quantitative Trait Loci / genetics*