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Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping is used to discover the genetic and molecular architecture underlying complex quantitative traits. It has important applications in agricultural, evolutionary, and biomedical research. R/qtl is an extensible, interactive environment for QTL mapping in experimental crosses. It is implemented as a package for the widely used open source statistical software R and contains a diverse array of QTL mapping methods, diagnostic tools for ensuring high-quality data, and facilities for the fit and exploration of multiple-QTL models, including QTL x QTL and QTL x environment interactions.
This book is a comprehensive guide to the practice of QTL mapping and the use of R/qtl, including study design, data import and simulation, data diagnostics, interval mapping and generalizations, two-dimensional genome scans, and the consideration of complex multiple-QTL models. Two moderately challenging case studies illustrate QTL analysis in its entirety. The book alternates between QTL mapping theory and examples illustrating the use of R/qtl. Novice readers will find detailed explanations of the important statistical concepts and, through the extensive software illustrations, will be able to apply these concepts in their own research. Experienced readers will find details on the underlying algorithms and the implementation of extensions to R/qtl.
Introduction.- Importing and simulating data.- Data checking.- Single-QTL analysis.- Non-normal phenotypes.- Experimental design and power.- Working with covariates.- Two-dimensional, two-QTL scans.- Fit and exploration of multiple-QTL models.- Case study I.- Case study II.
The book by Broman and Sen gives a practical review of statistical QTL mapping in experimental crosses with step-by-step instructions to the use of the R package qtl. !has a wide coverage of topics, from experimental design and data input, to single-QTL mapping, mapping with covariates and multiple-GTL scans, organized into 11 chapters according to the logic flow of a QTL analysis. The authors made a good compromise between statistical methodology and real-data illustration with R code, so that different readers may easily focus on the parts that are more interesting to them. A researcher can follow the code in the examples of the book to study real-data applications of the qtl package. !this is a well-written book with carefully chosen and nicely organized topics. It can serve as a good introduction to QTL mapping methodology and a useful practical guide to the R package. ! (Journal of Statistical Software, Vol. 32, Book Review 5, January 2010)
