Linkage analysis in lattice corneal dystrophy

Two kindreds of lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) [McKusick, 1983, catalog No. 12220] were studied for linkage. Fifty-one relatives were examined clinically, and 27 affected and 24 normal persons were ascertained. Tight linkage could be excluded for 15 informative markers with LOD scores of less than -2.0. The largest positive LOD score was 0.56 at 0 = 0.17 for linkage between haptoglobin and LCD. Combined with a previous study, the combined LOD score is 0.96.

Genetic Analysis Workshop II: segregation and three-locus linkage analysis

Data stimulated for Genetic Analysis Workshop II were analyzed using PAP. Segregation analysis showed a simple recessive mode of inheritance for data set 2 while no conclusions could be made about the mode of inheritance for data set 3. Pairwise linkage analysis suggested three linkage groups, but three-locus analysis did not provide strong evidence for the gene order within these groups. For three of the four three-locus comparisons performed, three-locus analysis suggested the simulated order. In only one case did the pairwise analysis suggest the simulated order, indicating the necessity for multi-locus analysis for gene order.

Linkage analysis in dominant optic atrophy

A kindred of German descent was studied for dominant optic atrophy, type Kjer (McKusick catalog no. 16540). One hundred twenty-three family members were examined clinically, and 36 affected, 81 normal, and six uncertain members were ascertained. Twenty-seven markers were analyzed for 121 members. The maximum lod score obtained was 2.0 at theta = .18 for linkage between the Kidd locus and dominant optic atrophy. Twenty-eight offspring were informative with 2-generation data. There was insufficient information for the acid phosphatase locus to aid gene localization. These data suggest that the locus for dominant optic atrophy is on chromosome 2.

A model for restriction fragment length distributions

We develop here a model for restriction fragment length distributions based on DNA dimer frequencies in humans. Mean fragment lengths are computed for known restriction enzymes. This model is tested using data from the hybridization of a series of arbitrary single-copy DNA probes screened with a set of restriction enzymes. The fit to the model appears good. We apply the model to the problem of how much DNA is scanned by a set of enzymes. This result is then further applied to optimizing the search for insertion/deletion DNA-polymorphisms.

Sister chromatid exchange: variation by age, sex, smoking, and breast cancer status

Variation in sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in lymphocytes of 125 persons was compared using a multivariate general linear model. The study was performed to determine whether SCE frequency differs with respect to age, sex, smoking, and breast cancer status. Study subjects were divided into: members of two branches of families having an excess of cancer (primarily breast) including a brother and sister in one family who developed nonbreast malignancies within 1 yr of the study; women in both families successfully treated for breast cancer (all at least 5 yr posttreatment); and women from the general population with confirmed breast cancer. Controls consisted of spouses who married into the high-risk kindreds, hospital personnel, and others (primarily tradesmen without history of occupational exposure). Results show that: (1) Women with active breast cancer have a significantly higher mean SCE frequency than control women or women greater than 5 yr posttreatment for breast cancer; (2) Cigarette smokers show a significantly higher number of SCEs than was observed in nonsmokers; (3) The increase in SCE level in smokers is dose-related to exposure as measured by cumulative pack-years; (4) SCE values in both high-risk families are not significantly different from controls; (5) Neither the age nor sex of the individual affects SCE frequency; and (6) The observed distribution of exchanges agrees with that expected based on the proportion of the genome represented by each chromosome group.

Hereditary hemochromatosis. Analysis of laboratory expression of the disease by genotype in 18 pedigrees

Tight linkage between the hemochromatosis locus and the HLA region permits determination of genotype in members of hemochromatosis pedigrees. To determine if simple laboratory measures of iron metabolism could predict the affected genotype without the need for HLA typing, we studied seven measures of iron metabolism: serum iron concentration, total iron-binding capacity, per cent saturation of transferrin, serum ferritin concentration, deferoxamine-induced urinary iron excretion and hepatic iron concentration evaluated by both chemical and histological methods. Discriminant analysis showed a per cent saturation of transferrin above 62% to be the best simply-measured indicator of the affected genotype: homozygosity is accurately predicted in 92% of the cases. The logarithmic transform of serum ferritin concentration was only 71% accurate. Pedigree analysis estimated the frequency of the hemochromatosis gene at 0.069 +/- 0.020 with a recombination probability of 0.015 +/- 0.015 with the HLA region. This corresponds to a heterozygote frequency of 0.13 and a disease frequency of 0.005.