In:
BMC Genetics, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 6, No. S1 ( 2005-12)
Abstract:
The information content of a continuous variable exceeds that of its categorical counterpart. The parameterization of a model may diminish the benefit of using a continuous variable. We explored the use of continuous versus discrete environment in variance components based analyses examining gene × environment interaction in the electrophysiological phenotypes from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. Results The parameterization using the continuous environment produced a greater number of significant gene × environment interactions and lower AICs (Akaike's information criterion). In these cases, the genetic variance increased with increasing cigarette pack-years, the continuous environment of interest. This did not, however, result in enhanced LOD scores when linkage analyses incorporated the gene × continuous environment interaction. Conclusion Alternative parameterizations may better represent the functional relationship between the continuous environment and the genetic variance.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1471-2156
DOI:
10.1186/1471-2156-6-S1-S57
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2041497-3
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3058779-7
SSG:
12
