An analytical formula to estimate confidence interval of QTL location with a saturated genetic map as a function of experimental design.

Analytical formulae are derived for the confidence interval for location of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) using a saturated genetic map, as a function of the experimental design, the QTL allele substitution effect, and the number of individuals genotyped and phenotyped. The formulae are derived assuming evenly spaced recombination events, rather than the actual unevenly spaced distribution. The formulae are useful for determining desired sample size when designing a wide variety of QTL mapping experiments, and for evaluating a priori the potential of a given mapping population for defining the location of a QTL. The formulae do not take into account the finite number of recombination events in a given sample.