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Estimating genetic correlations based on phenotypic data: a simulation-based method

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Abstract

Knowledge of genetic correlations is essential to understand the joint evolution of traits through correlated responses to selection, a difficult and seldom, very precise task even with easy-to-breed species. Here, a simulation-based method to estimate genetic correlations and genetic covariances that relies only on phenotypic measurements is proposed. The method does not require any degree of relatedness in the sampled individuals. Extensive numerical results suggest that the propose method may provide relatively efficient estimates regardless of sample sizes and contributions from common environmental effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, 2 Panepistimiou Str., Biopolis, Larissa, 41110, Greece

    ELIAS ZINTZARAS

  2. Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    ELIAS ZINTZARAS

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  1. ELIAS ZINTZARAS
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Correspondence to ELIAS ZINTZARAS.

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[Zintzaras E. 2011 Estimating genetic correlations based on phenotypic data: a simulation-based method. J. Genet. 90, 51–58]

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ZINTZARAS, E. Estimating genetic correlations based on phenotypic data: a simulation-based method. J Genet 90, 51–58 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-011-0021-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-011-0021-x

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