QTL mapping
Quantitative Trait Loci mapping
Description
The genetic heterogeneity among the ASD population is reflected in the variation in clinical expression from individual to individual.
QTL is used to increase phenotypic and genetic homogeneity of study samples. Impairments in the main deficit areas of social behevior, language, and repetitive behaviors have been observed in first- and second- degree non-affected relatives of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which suggests familial genetic transmission. These autism-related traits can be used to identify genes which contribute to the behavioral deficits related to autism. Using these traits to stratify affected families into groups with common characteristics for quantitative linkage analysis can be used to idnetify quantitative trait loci (QTL).
