Abstract
Background:
Only recently has the advent of the use of modern statistical and molecular genetic techniques begun to increase our understanding of the study of dermatology and skin biology.
Objective:
This paper will briefly outline several statistical techniques that are used in genetic studies of skin disease by reviewing these techniques, the types of questions that can be answered using them, and issues that should be considered in evaluating and interpreting papers that use them.
Methods:
A discussion of association studies, segregation analyses, and linkage analyses with respect to skin diseases is presented.
Results:
Association studies can be used to identify both genetic and environmental risk factors for disease. Segregation analyses are used to identify the underlying mechanism for disease aggregation in families. Linkage analysis is used to map disease genes to chromosomes.
Conclusion:
Dermatologists should be familiar with the types of genetic questions that can be answered with each technique, and should remain aware of the limitations in interpretation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.