Assessment of Variance Components Models on Pedigrees
Using Cholesterol, Low-density, and High-density
Lipoprotein Measurements
Beaty TH, Self SG, Chase GA, Kwiterovich PO
American Journal of Medical Genetics, 16(1):117-129 (1983)
Abstract
Plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) measurements on 402 individuals in 62 randomly selected families from the
Columbia Medical Plan population were used to select the "best" model among a series of
multifactorial models using the maximum likelihood method described by Lange et al
[1976]. These models included both genetic and nongenetic components of variance. The
most parsimonious model for each trait was selected and examined using a
goodness-of-fit statistic designed by Hopper and Mathews [1982] to test the assumptions
of this technique. A simple additive genetic model was the most plausible for all three
measurements, suggesting a strong role for genetic factors in determining lipid and
lipoprotein levels in these data. Goodness-of-fit statistics for these models were examined
and showed little evidence of deviation from the assumption of multivariate normality
within pedigrees. This approach of selecting the most parsimonious model among a series
of competing models and then assessing its goodness-of-fit has many applications in
studying familial aggregation of quantitative traits.
Variance component linkage analysis