Quantification of homozygosity in consanguineous individuals with autosomal recessive disease

Individuals born of consanguineous union have segments of their genomes that are homozygous as a result of inheriting identical ancestral genomic segments through both parents. One consequence of this is an increased incidence of recessive disease within these sibships. Theoretical calculations predict that 6% (1/16) of the genome of a child of first cousins will be homozygous and that the average homozygous segment will be 20 cM in size. We assessed whether these predictions held true in populations that have preferred consanguineous marriage for many generations. We found that in individuals with a recessive disease whose parents were first cousins, on average, 11% of their genomes were homozygous (n = 38; range 5%-20%), with each individual bearing 20 homozygous segments exceeding 3 cM (n = 38; range of number of homozygous segments 7-32), and that the size of the homozygous segment associated with recessive disease was 26 cM (n = 100; range 5-70 cM). These data imply that prolonged parental inbreeding has led to a background level of homozygosity increased approximately 5% over and above that predicted by simple models of consanguinity. This has important clinical and research implications.     

Molecular and statistical approaches to the detection and correction of errors in genotype databases.

Errors in genotyping data have been shown to have a significant effect on the estimation of recombination fractions in high-resolution genetic maps. Previous estimates of errors in existing databases have been limited to the analysis of relatively few markers and have suggested rates in the range 0.5%-1.5%. The present study capitalizes on the fact that within the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) collection of reference families, 21 individuals are members of more than one family, with separate DNA samples provided by CEPH for each appearance of these individuals. By comparing the genotypes of these individuals in each of the families in which they occur, an estimated error rate of 1.4% was calculated for all loci in the version 4.0 CEPH database. Removing those individuals who were clearly identified by CEPH as appearing in more than one family resulted in a 3.0% error rate for the remaining samples, suggesting that some error checking of the identified repeated individuals may occur prior to data submission. An error rate of 3.0% for version 4.0 data was also obtained for four chromosome 5 markers that were retyped through the entire CEPH collection. The effects of these errors on a multipoint map were significant, with a total sex-averaged length of 36.09 cM with the errors, and 19.47 cM with the errors corrected. Several statistical approaches to detect and allow for errors during linkage analysis are presented. One method, which identified families containing possible errors on the basis of the impact on the maximum lod score, showed particular promise, especially when combined with the limited retyping of the identified families. The impact of the demonstrated error rate in an established genotype database on high-resolution mapping is significant, raising the question of the overall value of incorporating such existing data into new genetic maps.     

Allelic structure and distribution of 103 STR loci in a Southern Tunisian population

Genotypes of 103 short tandem repeat (STR) markers distributed at an average of 40 cM intervals throughout the genome were determined for 40 individuals from the village of BirEl Hfai (BEH). This village of approximately 31.000 individuals is localized in the south-west of Tunisia. The allele frequency distributions in BEH were compared with those obtained for individuals in the CEPH (Centre d’Etude du Polymorphisme Humain) data using a Kolmo-gorov-Smirnov two-sample test. Fourteen out of the 103 markers (13.2%) showed significant differences (P<0.05) in distribution between the two populations. Population heterogeneity in BEH was indicated by an excess of observed homozygosity deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at 3 loci (P<0.0005). No evidence for genotypic disequilibrium was found for any of the marker pairs. This demonstrated that in spite of a high inbreeding level in the population, few markers showed evidence for a different pattern of allelic distribution compared to CEPH.     

An AFLP linkage map for Douglas-fir based upon multiple full-sib families

An amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) linkage map for coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) was constructed from eight full-sib families each consisting of 40 progeny. These families were part of the British Columbia Ministry of Forests second-generation progeny test program and represent typical family sizes used in progeny trials. For map construction, ten primer pairs using EcoRI+3 and MseI+4 were employed to identify and assay AFLP loci that segregated in backcross configurations. A new technique was used to obtain a single recombination rate for each pair of marker loci: for each locus pair, a recombination rate and log-odd value were estimated across all segregating families using a joint maximum likelihood function that considered the full dataset of segregating genotypes. The resulting matrix of recombination rates between all pairs of loci was used to construct an integrated linkage map using JoinMap. The final map consisted of 19 linkage groups spanning 938.6 cM at an average distance of 9.3 cM between markers. The simultaneous integration of data from multiple families may provide an effective way to construct a linkage map, using the genetic resources inherent in most tree improvement programs, where progeny tests of small size are conducted. The statistical property of number of families used is briefly discussed. For our data, at least three to four families greatly increased the chance of obtaining an informative locus in at least one family. Families as small as ten are adequate for closely linked loci (<10 cM), while the size used in our study (40) is adequate for loci within 30 cM.     

A Systematic Approach to Mapping Recessive Disease Genes in Individuals from Outbred Populations

The identification of recessive disease-causing genes by homozygosity mapping is often restricted by lack of suitable consanguineous families. To overcome these limitations, we apply homozygosity mapping to single affected individuals from outbred populations. In 72 individuals of 54 kindred ascertained worldwide with known homozygous mutations in 13 different recessive disease genes, we performed total genome homozygosity mapping using 250,000 SNP arrays. Likelihood ratio Z-scores (ZLR) were plotted across the genome to detect ZLR peaks that reflect segments of homozygosity by descent, which may harbor the mutated gene. In 93% of cases, the causative gene was positioned within a consistent ZLR peak of homozygosity. The number of peaks reflected the degree of inbreeding. We demonstrate that disease-causing homozygous mutations can be detected in single cases from outbred populations within a single ZLR peak of homozygosity as short as 2 Mb, containing an average of only 16 candidate genes. As many specialty clinics have access to cohorts of individuals from outbred populations, and as our approach will result in smaller genetic candidate regions, the new strategy of homozygosity mapping in single outbred individuals will strongly accelerate the discovery of novel recessive disease genes.     

A genetic linkage map of 27 markers on human chromosome 21.

We have constructed a genetic linkage map of the long arm of human chromosome 21 comprising 27 DNA markers. This map is an updated version of that reported earlier by group (1989, Genomics 4: 579-591), which contained 17 DNA markers. The current markers consist of 10 genes and 17 anonymous sequences. Traditional methods (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) were used to map 25 of these markers, whereas 2 markers were studied by polymerase chain reaction amplification of (GT)n dinucleotide repeats. Linkage analysis was performed on 40 CEPH families using the computer program packages LINKAGE, CRI-MAP, and MAPMAKER. Recombination rates were significantly different between the sexes, with the male map being 132 cM and the female map being 161 cM, assuming Kosambi interference and a variable ratio of sex difference in recombination. Approximately one-half of the crossovers in either sex occur distally, in terminal band 21q22.3, which also contains 16 of the markers studied. The average distance between adjacent markers was 6 cM.     

Homozygous mutations in IHH cause acrocapitofemoral dysplasia,an autosomal recessive disorder with cone-shaped epiphyses in hands and hips

Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia is a recently delineated autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, characterized clinically by short stature with short limbs and radiographically by cone-shaped epiphyses, mainly in hands and hips. Genomewide homozygosity mapping in two consanguineous families linked the locus to 2q35-q36 with a maximum two-point LOD score of 8.02 at marker D2S2248. Two recombination events defined the minimal critical region between markers D2S2248 and D2S2151 (3.74 cM). Using a candidate-gene approach, we identified two missense mutations in the amino-terminal signaling domain of the gene encoding Indian hedgehog (IHH). Both affected individuals of family 1 are homozygous for a 137C-->T transition (P46L), and the three patients in family 2 are homozygous for a 569T-->C transition (V190A). The two mutant amino acids are strongly conserved and predicted to be located outside the region where brachydactyly type A-1 mutations are clustered.     

A genetic linkage map of human chromosome 20 composed entirely of microsatellite markers.

Twenty-six (CA)n polymorphic microsatellites were isolated from a flow-sorted chromosome 20 library. To reduce the number of sequencing gels, these microsatellites were genotyped on 15 CEPH families using a procedure derived from the multiplex sequencing technique of G. M. Church and S. Kieffer-Higgins (1988, Science 240:185-188). A primary map with a strongly supported order was constructed with 15 (CA)n markers. Regional localizations for the 11 other microsatellites were obtained with regard to the primary map. The 26 loci span approximately 160 cM. Regional localizations for a set of index markers (D20S4, D20S6, D20S16, and D20S19) and for other markers from the CEPH Public Database (D20S5, D20S15, D20S17, and D20S18) have also been determined. The total map spans a genetic distance of approximately 195 cM extending from the (CA)n marker IP20M7 on 20p to D20S19 on 20q. The density of microsatellite markers is markedly higher in the pericentromeric region, with an average distance of 3 to 4 cM between adjacent markers over a distance of 43 cM. Two-thirds of these randomly isolated microsatellites are clustered in that region between D20S5 and D20S16 representing approximately one-fourth of the linkage map. This might suggest a nonrandom distribution of (CA)n simple sequence repeats on this chromosome.     

Genetic mapping of four dinucleotide repeat loci, DXS453, DXS458, DXS454, and DXS424, on the X chromosome using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Dinucleotide CA repeat sequences in the human genome have been shown to be highly polymorphic due to variation in the length of the repeat-containing segment. Therefore, these markers can serve as anchor loci in the construction of a high-resolution genetic map of the human genome. In this study, we improved the efficiency of typing dinucleotide repeats using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Dinucleotide repeat sequences of four previously identified markers (DXS453, DXS458, DXS454, and DXS424) on the long arm of the X chromosome were simultaneously amplified in a single PCR reaction. This multiplex PCR was applied to genotype individuals from the 40 CEPH reference families, and the genotypic data were used to determine the map position of the four loci with respect to eight reference markers in the Xq region by linkage analysis.     

The gene for leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter is located on chromosome 3q27.

Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM) is an autosomal recessive disorder with normal early development and, usually, childhood-onset neurological deterioration. At present, diagnosis of VWM is based on clinical examination and the results of repeat magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which show that, with time, increasing amounts of the cerebral white matter vanish and are replaced by cerebrospinal fluid. We have performed a genome linkage screening of a panel of 19 families of different ethnic origins. Significant linkage to chromosome 3q27 was observed in a 7-cM interval between markers D3S3730 and D3S3592, with a maximum multipoint LOD score of 5.1 calculated from the entire data set. The results of genealogical studies have suggested that seven parents in four Dutch families with VWM may have inherited an allele for the disease from a common ancestor who lived at least eight generations ago. Analysis of these families provided further evidence for the localization of the gene for VWM to 3q27. The patients shared a haplotype spanning 5 cM between markers D3S1618 and D3S3592. In one family of a different ethnic background, the patient had, in the same region, homozygosity for 13 consecutive markers spanning at least 12 cM, suggesting consanguinity between the parents. A healthy sibling of this patient had the same homozygous haplotype, which suggests that the healthy sibling is presymptomatic for the disease.     

A collection of ordered tetranucleotide-repeat markers from the human genome. The Utah Marker Development Group.

A collection of 1,069 human PCR-based genetic markers has been developed, and their distribution over the 22 autosomes and the X chromosome has been determined. Each marker was developed around a short-tandem-repeat DNA sequence. The majority (85%) of the markers described here were selected to contain tetranucleotide repeats, because these repeats show better stability during PCR than do dinucleotide repeats. Linkage maps constructed from genotypes collected with these markers in four CEPH pedigrees (1331, 1332, 1362, and 884) covered 3,417 cM of the human genome. More than 600 of the loci revealed heterozygosities > .70. Overall, 444 loci were ordered, with odds > 100:1 against inversion of adjacent loci. The average distance between markers was 7.4 cM on the autosomes and 24.8 cM on the X chromosome. Likely locations (100:1 odds intervals) were assigned for the remaining 621 short-tandem-repeat polymorphisms, as well as for 160 other markers that are present on the framework maps published by the Cooperative Human Linkage Center. Four markers specific to the Y chromosome are also reported here. From our maps, 347 markers were chosen to define "index" maps for each of the 22 autosomes. The index markers detect loci with an average heterozygosity of .85 and cover 3,169 cM of the autosomes, with an average distance between markers of 9.2 cM. These polymorphic short tandem repeats will be highly useful as reagents for the ongoing genetic and physical mapping of the human genome and for characterization of genetic changes in cancer.     

First-generation linkage map of the warningly colored butterfly Heliconius erato

We report the first genetic linkage map of Heliconius erato, a species that shows remarkable variation in its warningly colored wing patterns. We use crosses between H. erato and its sister species, H. himera, to place two major color pattern genes, D and Cr, on a linkage map containing AFLP, allozyme, microsatellite and single-copy nuclear loci. We identified all 21 linkage groups in an initial genetic screen of 22 progeny from an F1 female x male H. himera family. Of the 229 markers, 87 used to identify linkage groups were also informative in 35 progeny from a sibling backcross (H. himera female x F1 male). With these, and an additional 33 markers informative in the second family, we constructed recombinational maps for 19 of the 21 linkage groups. These maps varied in length from 18.1 to 431.1 centimorgans (cM) and yielded an estimated total length of 2400 cM. The average distance between markers was 23 cM, and eight of the 19 linkage groups, including the sex chromosome (Z) and the chromosome containing the Cr locus, contained two or more codominant anchor loci. Of the three potential candidate genes mapped here, Cubitus interruptus (Ci), Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Wingless (Wg), only Ci was linked, although loosely, to a known Heliconius color pattern locus. This work is an important first step for constructing a denser genetic map of the H. erato color pattern radiation and for a comparative genomic study of the architecture of mimicry in Heliconius butterflies.     

A centromere-based genetic map of the short arm of human chromosome 6

A genetic map of the short arm of chromosomes 6 (6p) has been constructed with 20 genetic markers that define 16 loci, including a locus at the centromere. The 40 CEPH families and, for 4 loci, 13 additional Utah families were genotyped. All 16 loci form a single linkage group extending from near the telomeric region to the centromere, covering 159 cM (Haldane) on the female map and 94 cM on the male map. Sex differences in recombination frequencies are noted for the 6p map, with an excess occurring in males at the distal end. The genetic order of loci is consistent with their physical localization on 6p. Proximal to the three most distal loci on the map, markers are especially dense, providing an extended region on 6p useful for localizing genes of interest.     

Localisation of the myotonic dystrophy locus to 19q13.2–19q13.3 and its relationship to twelve polymorphic loci on 19q

Summary The order of fourteen polymorphic markers localised to the long arm of human chromosome 19 has been established by multipoint mapping in a set of 40 CEPH (Centre d'Étude de Polymorphisme Humain, Paris) reference families. We report here the linkage relationship of the myotonic dystrophy (DM) locus to twelve of these markers as studied in 45 families with DM. The resulting genetic map is supported by the localisation of the DNA markers in a panel of somatic cell hybrids. Ten of the twelve markers have been shown to be proximal to the DM gene and two, PRKCG and D19S22, distal but at distances of approximately 25 cM and 15 cM, respectively. The closest proximal markers are APOC2 (apolipoprotein C-II) and CKM (creatine kinase, muscle) approximately 3 cM and 2 cM from the DM gene respectively, in the order APOC2-CKM-DM. The distance between APOC2, CKM and DM (of the order of 2 million base pairs) and their known orientation should permit directional chromosome walking and jumping. The data presented here should enable us to determine whether or not new markers are distal to APOC2/CKM and thus potentially flank the DM gene.     

Refined mapping of the gene causing familial mediterranean fever, by linkage and homozygosity studies

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by attacks of fever and serosal inflammation; the biochemical basis is unknown. We recently reported linkage of the gene causing FMF (designated “MEF”) to two markers on chromosome 16p. To map MEF more precisely, we have now tested nine 16p markers. Two-point and multipoint linkage analysis, as well as a study of recombinant haplotypes, placed MEF between D16S94 and D16S80, a genetic interval of about 9 cM. We also examined rates of homozygosity for markers in this region, among offspring of consanguineous marriages. For eight of nine markers, the rate of homozygosity among 26 affected inbred individuals was higher than that among their 20 unaffected sibs. Localizing MEF more precisely on the basis of homozygosity rates alone would be difficult, for two reasons: First, the high FMF carrier frequency increases the chance that inbred offspring could have the disease without being homozygous by descent at MEF. Second, several of the markers in this region are relatively nonpolymorphic, with a high rate of homozygosity, regardless of their chromosomal location.     

A Primary Genetic Linkage Map of 14 Polymorphic Loci for the Short Arm of Human Chromosome 8

A genetic linkage map of markers for the short arm of human chromosome 8 has been constructed with 14 polymorphic DNA markers on the basis of genotypes obtained in 40 CEPH reference families. This unbroken map spans 45 cM in males and 79 cM in females. The 14 markers include three genes, MSR, LPL, and NEFL, and one anonymous DNA segment that were previously assigned to chromosome 8. The other 10 marker had been isolated from a chromosome 8-specific cosmid library and physically localized to chromosomal bands by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The order of loci determined by genetic linkage was consistent with their physical locations. This map will facilitate efficient linkage studies of human genetic diseases that may be segregating on chromosome 8p and will provide anchor points for development of high-resolution maps for this chromosomal region.     

A strategy for constructing high-resolution genetic maps of the human genome: a genetic map of chromosome 17p, ordered with meiotic breakpoint-mapping panels.

Genetic linkage analyses with genotypic data obtained from four CEPH reference families initially assigned 24 new PCR-based markers to chromosome 17 and located the markers at specific intervals of an existing genetic map of chromosome 17p. Each marker was additionally genotyped with an ordered set of obligate, phase-known recombinant chromosomes. The breakpoint-mapping panels for each family consisted of two parents, one sib with a nonrecombinant chromosome, and one or more sibs with obligate recombinant chromosomes. The relative order of markers was determined by sorting segregation patterns of new markers and ordered anchor markers and by minimizing double-recombination events. Consistency of segregation patterns with multiple flanking loci constituted support for order. A genetic map of chromosome 17p was completed with 39 markers in 23 clusters, with an average space of 3 cM between clusters. The collection of informative genotypes was highly efficient, requiring fivefold fewer genotypes than would be collected with all the CEPH families. Given the availability of large numbers of highly informative PCR-based markers, meiotic breakpoint mapping should facilitate construction of a human genomic map with 1-cM resolution.     

Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype homozygosity in population samples genotyped at a high marker density

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the information contained in homozygous haplotypes detected with high density genotyping. METHODS: We analyze the genotypes of approximately 2,500 markers on chr 22 in 12 population samples, each including 200 individuals. We develop a measure of disequilibrium based on haplotype homozygosity and an algorithm to identify genomic segments characterized by non-random homozygosity (NRH), taking into account allele frequencies, missing data, genotyping error, and linkage disequilibrium. RESULTS: We show how our measure of linkage disequilibrium based on homozygosity leads to results comparable to those of R(2), as well as the importance of correcting for small sample variation when evaluating D'. We observe that the regions that harbor NRH segments tend to be consistent across populations, are gene rich, and are characterized by lower recombination. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to take into account LD patterns when interpreting long stretches of homozygous markers.     

A framework genetic map of Muscadinia rotundifolia

This study presents a framework linkage map based on microsatellite markers for Muscadinia rotundifolia (1n?=?20). The mapping population consisted of 206 progeny generated from a cross of two M. rotundifolia varieties, 'Fry' and 'Trayshed'. A total of 884 primers were tested for their ability to amplify markers: 686 amplified and 312 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs generated 322 polymorphic markers for either one or both parents. The map for the female parent 'Fry' consisted of 212 markers and covered 879?cM on 18 chromosomes. The average distance between the markers was 4.1?cM and chromosome 6 was not represented due to a lack of polymorphic markers. The map for the male parent 'Trayshed' consisted of 191 markers and covered 841?cM on 19 chromosomes. The consensus map consisted of 314 markers on 19 chromosomes with a total distance of 1,088?cM, which represented 66?% of the distance covered by the Vitis vinifera reference linkage map. Marker density varied greatly among chromosomes from 5 to 35 mapped markers. Relatively good synteny was observed across 19 chromosomes based on markers in common with the V. vinifera reference map. Extreme segregation distortion was observed for chromosome 8 and 14 on the female parent map, and 4 on the male parent map. The lack of mapping coverage for the 20th M. rotundifolia chromosome is discussed in relation to possible evolutionary events that led to the reduction in chromosome number from 21 to 19 in the ancestral genome.     

The CEPH consortium linkage map of human chromosome 2

This paper describes the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) consortium linkage map of chromosome 2. The map contains 36 loci defined by genotyping generated from the CEPH family DNAs. A total of 73 different markers were typed by 14 contributing laboratories; of these, 36 loci are ordered on the map with likelihood support of at least 1000:1. Markers are placed along the length of the chromosome but no markers were available to anchor the map at either telomere or the centromere. Multilocus linkage analysis has produced male, female, and sex-averaged maps extending for 261, 430, and 328 cM, respectively. The sex-averaged map contains five intervals greater than 15 cM and the mean genetic distance between the 36 uniquely placed loci is 9.1 cM.