Interval mapping of quantitative trait loci employing correlated trait complexes

An approach to increase the resolution power of interval mapping of quantitative trait (QT) loci is proposed, based on analysis of correlated trait complexes. For a given set of QTs, the broad sense heritability attributed to a QT locus (QTL) (say, A/a) is an increasing function of the number of traits. Thus, for some traits x and y, H(xy)2(A/a) > or = H(x)2(A/a). The last inequality holds even if y does not depend on A/a at all, but x and y are correlated within the groups AA, Aa and aa due to nongenetic factors and segregation of genes from other chromosomes. A simple relationship connects H2 (both in single trait and two-trait analysis) with the expected LOD value, ELOD = -1/2N log(1-H2). Thus, situations could exist that from the inequality H(xy)2(A/a) > or = H(x)2(A/a) a higher resolution is provided by the two-trait analysis as compared to the single-trait analysis, in spite of the increased number of parameters. Employing LOD-score procedure to simulated backcross data, we showed that the resolution power of the QTL mapping model can be elevated if correlation between QTs is taken into account. The method allows us to test numerous biologically important hypotheses concerning manifold effects of genomic segments on the defined trait complex (means, variances and correlations).