Regression models for association studies of quantitative trait loci in humans

Regression analysis is a simple, computationally efficient and often robust method for assessment of genotype–phenotype relationships in quantitative traits. It has long been used in studies of familiality and selection, and recently has been further extended for linkage and association analysis, linkage disequilibrium mapping and population substructure assessment. We review and compare some of the most commonly used regression models and highlight some useful properties of one model via analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme phenotype and marker data.