A new genetic method """"""""Mapping by Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium"""""""" (MALD) has been proposed and implemented which provides a population and patient cohort-based approach for disease gene identification (Stephens et al., 1994, Amer. J. Hum. Genet. 55:809-824). The method uses genetic markers which have significant allele frequency differences between racial groups and a patient population with a recent history of admixture. A collection of over 200 markers with a 10-centiMorgan systematic spacing and delta values of 30 percent or greater (the largest difference in frequencies between alleles at a locus) has been developed. A group of African-American patients, whose racial group has a history of admixture, is being collected and will be typed for the set of genetic markers. Like traditional linkage studies, additional markers can be used in a region to confirm a positive result and pinpoint the location of a disease gene.
| Chretien, J-P; Coresh, J; Berthier-Schaad, Y et al. (2006) Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms in LPA account for most of the increase in lipoprotein(a) level elevation in African Americans compared with European Americans. J Med Genet 43:917-23 |
| Smith, Michael W; O'Brien, Stephen J (2005) Mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium: advances, limitations and guidelines. Nat Rev Genet 6:623-32 |
| Smith, Michael W; Patterson, Nick; Lautenberger, James A et al. (2004) A high-density admixture map for disease gene discovery in african americans. Am J Hum Genet 74:1001-13 |
