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Maximum likelihood estimation of the frequency of null alleles at microsatellite loci

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Abstract

We review three methods for estimating the frequency of null alleles at codominant loci (such as microsatellite loci) and present a new maximum likelihood approach. Computer simulations show that the maximum likelihood estimator has a smaller root mean squared error than previous estimators.

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Acknowledgements

This research has been supported by NSF grant DEB-0415932 (MLT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Montana State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Steven T. Kalinowski & Mark L. Taper

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  1. Steven T. Kalinowski
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  2. Mark L. Taper
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Correspondence to Steven T. Kalinowski.

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Kalinowski, S.T., Taper, M.L. Maximum likelihood estimation of the frequency of null alleles at microsatellite loci. Conserv Genet 7, 991–995 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9134-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9134-9

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