Experimental crosses to identify the genetic loci (called quantitative trait loci, QTL) that influence quantitative traits will continue to play an important role in efforts to uncover the genetic basis of complex human diseases. Recently developed tools (including the joint consideration of multiple crosses, haplo- type analysis, and the use of gene expression information) have led to improved prospects for getting from a QTL to the gene. Our long-term goal is to develop improved statistical methods for mapping QTL in experimental crosses. We focus particularly on mouse and rat models of human disease, and on methods for studies of evolution. Critical to the work is the development and distribution of software implementing such methods, so that the best QTL mapping methods are widely available to geneticists. Toward this goal, our current aims are to (1) Develop methods for the dissection of trans-eQTL hotspots in expression genetics studies, (2) Develop methods to map QTL to a phylogenetic tree through the joint analysis of multiple crosses, (3) Continue the development of practical model selection procedures for mapping multiple QTL in the presence of epistatic interactions, in particular to handle QTL W covariate interactions, the X chromosome, and binary traits, (4) Continue the development of methods for the analysis of multiple-strain recombinant inbred lines (such as the Collaborative Cross), heterogeneous stock (HS), and outbred crosses, and (5) Continue the development of the comprehensive QTL mapping software, R/qtl.

Public Health Relevance

Complex diseases are influenced by numerous interacting genes as well as important environmental factors. Experimental crosses with model organisms (such as the mouse) provide a powerful means for uncovering the genetic etiology underlying important diseases. Through this research effort, we will develop improved statistical methods and software, to enable biologists to make better use of their data to tease apart and ultimately identify the many interacting genes that contribute to complex diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM074244-08
Application #
8089510
Study Section
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section (GVE)
Program Officer
Krasnewich, Donna M
Project Start
2005-06-01
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2011-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$274,940
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Palus, Martin; Sohrabi, Yahya; Broman, Karl W et al. (2018) A novel locus on mouse chromosome 7 that influences survival after infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus. BMC Neurosci 19:39
Tian, Jianan; Keller, Mark P; Broman, Aimee Teo et al. (2016) The Dissection of Expression Quantitative Trait Locus Hotspots. Genetics 202:1563-74
Tian, Jianan; Keller, Mark P; Oler, Angie T et al. (2015) Identification of the Bile Acid Transporter Slco1a6 as a Candidate Gene That Broadly Affects Gene Expression in Mouse Pancreatic Islets. Genetics 201:1253-62
Broman, Karl W; Keller, Mark P; Broman, Aimee Teo et al. (2015) Identification and Correction of Sample Mix-Ups in Expression Genetic Data: A Case Study. G3 (Bethesda) 5:2177-86
Whitney, Kenneth D; Broman, Karl W; Kane, Nolan C et al. (2015) Quantitative trait locus mapping identifies candidate alleles involved in adaptive introgression and range expansion in a wild sunflower. Mol Ecol 24:2194-211
Broman, Karl W (2015) R/qtlcharts: interactive graphics for quantitative trait locus mapping. Genetics 199:359-61
Kwak, Il-Youp; Moore, Candace R; Spalding, Edgar P et al. (2015) Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Underlying Function-Valued Traits Using Functional Principal Component Analysis and Multi-Trait Mapping. G3 (Bethesda) 6:79-86
Huang, B Emma; Raghavan, Chitra; Mauleon, Ramil et al. (2014) Efficient imputation of missing markers in low-coverage genotyping-by-sequencing data from multiparental crosses. Genetics 197:401-4
Broman, Karl W (2014) Fourteen Years of R/qtl: Just Barely Sustainable. J Open Res Softw 2:
Kwak, Il-Youp; Moore, Candace R; Spalding, Edgar P et al. (2014) A simple regression-based method to map quantitative trait loci underlying function-valued phenotypes. Genetics 197:1409-16

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