One- and two-sample tests for single-locus inbreeding coefficients using the bootstrap

Abstract

Two bootstrap procedures are proposed to perform one- and two-sample tests on inbreeding coefficients for single loci by resampling over the genotypes. These tests allow testing against a broad range of new alternative hypotheses in addition to panmixis. Monte Carlo simulations show that the coverage probability of these tests behaves satisfactorily if the number of bootstrap resamples is larger than or equal to 2500 and the sample size is larger than or equal to 20, for the case of two alleles. As the fixation index of the underlying distribution becomes more extreme, higher sample sizes are required to obtain a reliable test. Two explicit formulae for the power of the two tests are estimated from Monte Carlo simulations, and a comparison with the classical chi- square test is made. A Turbo-Pascal computer program is available to perform the two presented bootstrap tests. © 1995 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.