Theory and application of methods for genome-wide association studies

Specialeforsvar ved Kristján Norland

Titel: Theory and application of methods for genome-wide association studies

Abstract: We compare methods for analyzing continuous phenotype data in GWAS based on their ability to correct for confounding bias, such as population stratification and cryptic relatedness, as well as distinguishing bias from polygenicity. We analyze the BOLT-LMM program for association testing and show that it is able to achieve better computational properties compared to other programs. We apply these methods to real genotype and phenotype data from deCODE genetics in Iceland and perform a GWAS on the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram, and discuss the results.

Vejledere: Niels Richard Hansen & Daníel Freyr Guðbjartsson
Censor: Asger Hobolth