crimap documentation (version 2.4)


7. Changes incorporated in version 2.2 - 2.4

The main change in version 2.2 is the incorporation of a more efficient "switch algebra" algorithm which in many cases (particularly for large pedigrees) substantially reduces memory requirements and running time. Thus for many runs, even with a relatively large number of loci, the default memory request of 3 MB (for nb_our_alloc in the .par file) is overly generous. Version 2.3 incorporates a better switch algebra algorithm which further reduces memory and running time. Additional changes have been made which should make this version compatible with most C compilers.

Version 2.4 incorporates the following changes:

  1. Haplotyping: it is now possible to constrain the loci in a haplotyped system to be at 0 distance from each other for all likelihood calculations. In addition, haplotyping can be used with all of the options; in particular, twopoint LOD tables can be generated for pairs of haplotyped systems. Haplotyped systems are now specified in the .par file (and there is no longer a .hap file).

  2. Fixed distances: it is now possible to fix the distance between a pair of adjacent loci, for the purpose of likelihood calculations, with the options fixed and chrompic.

  3. The .ord file can optionally be used to prescreen locus orders generated by all and flipsn, to reduce the number of orders for which likelihoods need be calculated. (Previously the .ord file was only used by the mapbuilding options). The parameter use_ord_file in the .par file controls the use of the .ord file with these options.

  4. twopoint: it is now possible to divide the loci into two different groups, and generate LOD tables only for pairs consisting of one locus from each group (this makes it possible, for example, to conveniently generate LOD tables between "new" loci and "old" loci). The parameter PUK_LIKE_TOL is now used as a LOD cutoff: tables are displayed only for locus pairs whose LOD exceeds PUK_LIKE_TOL.

  5. chrompic: chromosomes are now labelled by individual ID # (not position within .gen file); phase designations are now always consistent across pedigrees (not merely across chromosomes) even in the phase unknown case; the relative probabilities for the best phase choice and the next most likely alternative are given; the phase designations now distinguish phase known from phase unknown.

  6. a new option, merge, makes it easy to merge two .gen files having overlapping sets of families and/or loci. Other changes in v. 2.4, include: family IDs are now allowed to be arbitrary character strings (not merely integers as in previous versions); the format of the .par file has been changed to make it easier to use; the orders displayed by all are sorted by decreasing log10 likelihood; output of flipsn is easier to read (the "flipped" loci in each order are highlighted).


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