Jornal de Biometria e Bioestatística

Analysis of Sex-Linked Recessive Traits: Optimal Designs for Parameter Estimation and Model Tests

Abstract

J. Fellman

The estimation of the gene frequency of sex-linked recessive traits is reconsidered. The estimation formulae for mixed, male, and female samples are presented and compared. Optimal designs for efficient estimation are studied. Male samples are optimal for gene frequencies below 1/3 and female samples for frequencies above 1/3. Mixed samples are never optimal. The model testing problem is discussed. Mixed samples are necessary for model testing. We analyse the loss in efficiency when both estimation and testing must be performed. In general, our results indicate that mixed samples should contain an excess of males. The results obtained are applied to empirical data found in the literature.