The Location of Viability Genes within a Testcross Framework.

The maximum likelihood method is applied to the problem of estimating the positions and effects of viability genes. Whenever testcross linkage data indicate the presence of differential viability, it is hypothesized that there exists one viability gene between each marker. Estimation is possible only for two-point data since the number of independent expectation expressions is less than the number of parameters for three or more markers. It is pointed out that within the two-point testcross system, it is impossible to distinguish between pleiotropic effects of the marker genes and the effect of a middle viability gene, if existent. The methods outlined will be useful in their application to experiments specifically designed to locate induced viability genes.