BACKGROUND: In contrast to gene-mapping studies of simple Mendelian disorders, genetic analyses of complex traits are far more challenging, and high quality data management systems are often critical to the success of these projects. To minimize the difficulties inherent in complex trait studies, we have developed GeneLink, a Web-accessible, password-protected Sybase database. RESULTS: GeneLink is a powerful tool for complex trait mapping, enabling genotypic data to be easily merged with pedigree and extensive phenotypic data. Specifically designed to facilitate large-scale (multi-center) genetic linkage or association studies, GeneLink securely and efficiently handles large amounts of data and provides additional features to facilitate data analysis by existing software packages and quality control. These include the ability to download chromosome-specific data files containing marker data in map order in various formats appropriate for downstream analyses (e.g., GAS and LINKAGE). Furthermore, an unlimited number of phenotypes (either qualitative or quantitative) can be stored and analyzed. Finally, GeneLink generates several quality assurance reports, including genotyping success rates of specified DNA samples or success and heterozygosity rates for specified markers. CONCLUSIONS: GeneLink has already proven an invaluable tool for complex trait mapping studies and is discussed primarily in the context of our large, multi-center study of hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). GeneLink is freely available at http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/genelink.
BACKGROUND: In contrast to gene-mapping studies of simple Mendelian disorders, genetic analyses of complex traits are far more challenging, and high quality data management systems are often critical to the success of these projects. To minimize the difficulties inherent in complex trait studies, we have developed GeneLink, a Web-accessible, password-protected Sybase database. RESULTS: GeneLink is a powerful tool for complex trait mapping, enabling genotypic data to be easily merged with pedigree and extensive phenotypic data. Specifically designed to facilitate large-scale (multi-center) genetic linkage or association studies, GeneLink securely and efficiently handles large amounts of data and provides additional features to facilitate data analysis by existing software packages and quality control. These include the ability to download chromosome-specific data files containing marker data in map order in various formats appropriate for downstream analyses (e.g., GAS and LINKAGE). Furthermore, an unlimited number of phenotypes (either qualitative or quantitative) can be stored and analyzed. Finally, GeneLink generates several quality assurance reports, including genotyping success rates of specified DNA samples or success and heterozygosity rates for specified markers. CONCLUSIONS: GeneLink has already proven an invaluable tool for complex trait mapping studies and is discussed primarily in the context of our large, multi-center study of hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). GeneLink is freely available at http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/genelink.
Authors: Fredrik Wiklund; Elizabeth M Gillanders; Julie A Albertus; Anders Bergh; Jan-Erik Damber; Monica Emanuelsson; Diana L Freas-Lutz; Derek E Gildea; Ingela Göransson; MaryPat S Jones; Björn-Anders Jonsson; Fredrik Lindmark; Carol J Markey; Erica L Riedesel; Elisabeth Stenman; Jeffry M Trent; Henrik Grönberg Journal: Prostate Date: 2003-12-01 Impact factor: 4.104
Authors: Ethan M Lange; Elizabeth M Gillanders; Cralen C Davis; W Mark Brown; Joel K Campbell; MaryPat Jones; Derek Gildea; Erica Riedesel; Julie Albertus; Diana Freas-Lutz; Carol Markey; Veda Giri; Jennifer Beebe Dimmer; James E Montie; Jeffrey M Trent; Kathleen A Cooney Journal: Prostate Date: 2003-12-01 Impact factor: 4.104
Authors: Jianfeng Xu; Elizabeth M Gillanders; Sarah D Isaacs; Bao-Li Chang; Kathy E Wiley; S Lilly Zheng; MaryPat Jones; Derek Gildea; Erica Riedesel; Julie Albertus; Diana Freas-Lutz; Carol Markey; Deborah A Meyers; Patrick C Walsh; Jeffrey M Trent; William B Isaacs Journal: Prostate Date: 2003-12-01 Impact factor: 4.104
Authors: J Carpten; N Nupponen; S Isaacs; R Sood; C Robbins; J Xu; M Faruque; T Moses; C Ewing; E Gillanders; P Hu; P Bujnovszky; I Makalowska; A Baffoe-Bonnie; D Faith; J Smith; D Stephan; K Wiley; M Brownstein; D Gildea; B Kelly; R Jenkins; G Hostetter; M Matikainen; J Schleutker; K Klinger; T Connors; Y Xiang; Z Wang; A De Marzo; N Papadopoulos; O-P Kallioniemi; R Burk; D Meyers; H Grönberg; P Meltzer; R Silverman; J Bailey-Wilson; P Walsh; W Isaacs; J Trent Journal: Nat Genet Date: 2002-01-22 Impact factor: 38.330
Authors: S V Tavtigian; J Simard; D H Teng; V Abtin; M Baumgard; A Beck; N J Camp; A R Carillo; Y Chen; P Dayananth; M Desrochers; M Dumont; J M Farnham; D Frank; C Frye; S Ghaffari; J S Gupte; R Hu; D Iliev; T Janecki; E N Kort; K E Laity; A Leavitt; G Leblanc; J McArthur-Morrison; A Pederson; B Penn; K T Peterson; J E Reid; S Richards; M Schroeder; R Smith; S C Snyder; B Swedlund; J Swensen; A Thomas; M Tranchant; A M Woodland; F Labrie; M H Skolnick; S Neuhausen; J Rommens; L A Cannon-Albright Journal: Nat Genet Date: 2001-02 Impact factor: 38.330
Authors: Jianfeng Xu; S Lilly Zheng; Akira Komiya; Josyf C Mychaleckyj; Sarah D Isaacs; Jennifer J Hu; David Sterling; Ethan M Lange; Gregory A Hawkins; Aubrey Turner; Charles M Ewing; Dennis A Faith; Jill R Johnson; Hiroyoshi Suzuki; Piroska Bujnovszky; Kathleen E Wiley; Angelo M DeMarzo; G Steven Bova; Baoli Chang; M Craig Hall; David L McCullough; Alan W Partin; Vahan S Kassabian; John D Carpten; Joan E Bailey-Wilson; Jeffrey M Trent; Jill Ohar; Eugene R Bleecker; Patrick C Walsh; William B Isaacs; Deborah A Meyers Journal: Nat Genet Date: 2002-09-16 Impact factor: 38.330
Authors: Johanna Schleutker; Agnes B Baffoe-Bonnie; Elizabeth Gillanders; Tommi Kainu; Mary-Pat Jones; Diana Freas-Lutz; Carol Markey; Derek Gildea; Erica Riedesel; Julie Albertus; Kenneth D Gibbs; Mika Matikainen; Pasi A Koivisto; Teuvo Tammela; Joan E Bailey-Wilson; Jeffrey M Trent; Olli-P Kallioniemi Journal: Prostate Date: 2003-12-01 Impact factor: 4.104