| Abstract: | Procedures to estimate the genetic segregation parameter when ascertainment of families is incomplete, have previously relied on iterative computer algorithms since estimators with closed form are lacking. We now present the Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimator for the segregation parameter under any ascertainment probability. This estimator assumes a simple form when ascertainment is complete. We also present a simple estimator, akin to Li and Mantel's (1968) estimator, but without the restriction that ascertainment be complete. The performance of these estimators is compared with respect to asymptotic efficiency. We also provide tables that define the required number of families of a given size that need to be sampled to achieve a specific power for testing simple hypothesis on the segregation parameter. |
