Genome-wide association tests by using block information in family data

Abstract

By applying an association test to analyze the data sets from Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 Problem 3, we compare power using different haplotype-block information. The results from using both of the two different coding schemes show that the test using tight blocks with limited haplotype diversity within each block is more powerful than that using evenly spaced blocks, and the latter is more powerful than that using single-marker blocks. By using carefully chosen haplotype blocks, the power of association tests may be enhanced.