A marginal likelihood model for family-based data

This paper presents a marginal likelihood model for family-based data based upon the transmission of marker alleles from each heterozygous parent to his/her affected children. The proposed model, extending the maximum-likelihood-binomial (MLB) method and the disequilibrium maximum-likelihood-binomial (DMLB) method (Abel et al. 1998; Abel & Müller-Myhsok, 1998; Huang & Jiang, 1999), is adaptive to linkage disequilibrium (LD) and linkage heterogeneity. Compared with other procedures, the likelihood ratio test (LRT) derived from the proposed model enjoys superior qualities. First, simulations indicate that the power of the LRT is greater than that of the TDT or DMLB in all of our studied scenarios. Second, when we applied the LRT and other tests to a Tourette Syndrome data, the result was data favorable to the use of the LRT. Therefore, we recommend the use of the LRT as an additional linkage test wherever applicable, especially when the amount of LD is uncertain.