The first part of the course will provide a broad overview of genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics, including biometrical genetics such as twin studies, topics from population genetics, as well as linkage versus linkage disequilibrium, risk and penetrance models, and gene-environment interactions.
The second part will cover genetic association analyses in detail: Power and sample size calculations, choice of design (independent versus family designs); basic case-control association analyses, family-based association analyses; testing and measuring gene-environment interactions; haplotype analyses; post-processing and interpretation of results. Control for multiple testing.
The course will use freely available software, including PLINK, GenABEL (in R), HapMap/HaploView, and Haplin (in R).
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge:
Familiarity with fundamental aspects of genetic epidemiology. Basic understanding of selected topics in population genetics and biometrical genetics. Knowledge of common statistical methods and study designs in genetic epidemiology.
Skills:
Be able to use software to conduct full genetic association analyses, including data quality control, analyses, interpretation of results, and post-processing/presentation of results.
General competence:
To acquire the tools and understanding to plan and conduct genetic association analyses.
40 hours (1 week), lectures combined with group work/hands-on exercises
40 hours (1 week), take-home project
A Statistical Approach to Genetic Epidemiology- Concepts and Applications (Second Edition)
by Andreas Ziegler and Inke R. König. Wiley, 2010.
Chapters 10-14 (140 pages)
+ parts of introductory chapters
In addition, relevant research papers and software manuals, as needed.
Course Coordinator: Håkon Gjessing
NORBIS - national research school in bioinformatics, biostatistics and systems biology
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