'A previous genome-wide study in Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish pedigrees showed significant linkage of ocular refraction to a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) on 1p34-36.1. We carried out a fine-mapping study of this region in Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish (ASHK) and Old Order Amish (OOA) families to confirm linkage and narrow the candidate region,' scientists in the United States report (see also Molecular Vision Research).
'Families were recruited from ASHK and OOA American communities. The samples included: 402 individuals in 53 OOA families; and 596 members in 68 ASHK families. Families were ascertained to contain multiple myopic individuals. Genotyping of 1,367 SNPs was carried out within a 35cM (similar to 23.9 Mb) candidate QTL region on 1p34-36. Multipoint variance components (VC) and regression-based (REG) linkage analyses were carried out separately in OOA and ASHK groups, and in a combined analysis that included all families. Evidence of linkage of refractive error was found in both OOA (VC LOD=3.45, REG LOD=3.38 at similar to 59 cM) and ASHK families (VC LOD=3.12, REG LOD=4.263 at similar to 66 cM). Combined analyses showed three highly significant linkage peaks, separated by similar to 11 cM (or 10 Mb), within the candidate region. In a fine-mapping linkage study of OOA and ASHK families, we have confirmed linkage of refractive error to a QTL on 1p,' wrote R. Wojciechowski and colleagues, National Institutes of Health.
The researchers concluded: 'The area of linkage has been narrowed down to a gene-rich region at 1p34.2-35.1 containing similar to 124 genes.'
Wojciechowski and colleagues published their study in Molecular Vision (Fine-mapping of candidate region in Amish and Ashkenazi families confirms linkage of refractive error to a QTL on 1p34-p36. Molecular Vision, 2009;15(145-48):1398-1406).
For additional information, contact R. Wojciechowski, NHGRI, Statistics Genetics Sect, Inherited Diseases Research Branch, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Dr., Suite 1200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Molecular Vision is: Molecular Vision, C, O Jeff Boatright, Laboratory B, 5500 Emory Eye Center, 1327 Clifton Rd., N E, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Keywords: United States, Baltimore, Life Sciences, Refractive Errors, Molecular Vision, National Institutes of Health.
This article was prepared by Science Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Science Letter via NewsRx.com.
