This book brings together leading experts to provide an introduction to genetic epidemiology that begins with a primer in human molecular genetics through all the standard methods in population genetics and genetic epidemiology required for an adequate grounding in the field.

This volume details fast-moving research while providing in-depth descriptions of methods and analytical approaches that are helping to understand the genome and how it is related to complex diseases. Chapters guide the reader through common and rare variation, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and state-of-the-art approaches for the synthesis of genome-wide and gene expression data. Novel approaches for associations in the HLA region, family-based designs, Mendelian Randomization and Copy Number Variation are also presented. The volume concludes with the challenges researchers face while moving from identifying variants to their functional role and potential drug targets. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, a thorough presentation of methods and approaches and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

A Statistical Approach to Genetic Epidemiology After studying statistics and mathematics at the University of Munich and obtaining his doctoral degree from the University of Dortmund, Andreas Ziegler received the Johann-Peter-Süssmilch-Medal of the German Association for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology for his post-doctoral work on “Model Free Linkage Analysis of Quantitative Traits” in 1999. In 2004, he was one of the recipients of the Fritz-Linder-Forum-Award from the German Association for Surgery.

This text integrates the principles, methods and approaches of epidemiology and genetics in the study of disease aetiology. The authors define the central theme of genetic epidemiology as the study of the role of genetic factors and their interaction with environmental factors in the occurrence of disease in populations.

This well-organized and clearly written text has a unique focus on methods of identifying the joint effects of genes and environment on disease patterns. It follows the natural sequence of research, taking readers through the study designs and statistical analysis techniques for determining whether a trait runs in families, testing hypotheses about whether a familial tendency is due to genetic or environmental factors or both, estimating the parameters of a genetic model, localizing and ultimately isolating the responsible genes, and finally characterizing their effects in the population. Examples from the literature on the genetic epidemiology of breast and colorectal cancer, among other diseases, illustrate this process. Although the book is oriented primarily towards graduate students in epidemiology, biostatistics and human genetics, it will also serve as a comprehensive reference work for researchers. Introductory chapters on molecular biology, Mendelian genetics, epidemiology, statistics, and population genetics will help make the book accessible to those coming from one of these fields without a background in the others. It strikes a good balance between epidemiologic study designs and statistical methods of data analysis.

"Human Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology" ist der 3. Band aus der sehr erfolgreichen Reihe 'Wiley Biostatistics Reference Series', die auf Artikeln der "Encyclopedia of Biostatistics" basiert. Dieser Band gibt einen topaktuellen und umfassenden Überblick über ein Forschungsgebiet, das insbesondere im Zuge des Human-Genomprojekts eine regelrechte Explosion an Forschungsaktivitäten erlebt hat. Enthalten sind komplett aktualisierte Artikel aus der "Encyclopedia of Biostatistics" sowie über 25% neue Artikel. Mit einem komplexen System an Querverweisen, die das Auffinden der gewünschten Information erheblich erleichtern. Eine interessante Lektüre für Genetiker, Epidemiologen, Biostatistiker und Forscher in diesen Bereichen.

The book illustrates how biostatistics may numerically summarize human genetic epidemiology using R, and may be used successfully to solve problems in quantitative Genetic Epidemiology Biostatistics for Human Genetic Epidemiology provides statistical methodologies and R recipes for human genetic epidemiologic problems. It begins by introducing all the necessary probabilistic and statistical foundations, before moving on to topics related human genetic epidemiology, with R codes illustrations for various examples. This clear and concise book covers human genetic epidemiology, using R in data analysis, including multivariate data analysis. It examines probabilistic and statistical theories for modeling human genetic epidemiology – leading the readers through an effective epidemiologic model, from simple to advanced levels. Classical mathematical, probabilistic, and statistical theory are thoroughly discussed and presented. This book also presents R as a calculator and using R in data analysis. Additionally, it covers Advanced Human Genetic Data Concepts, the Study of Human Genetic Variation, Manhattan Plots, as well as the Procedures for Multiple Comparison. Numerous Worked Examples are provided for illustrations of concepts and real-life applications. Biostatistics for Human Genetic Epidemiology is an ideal reference for professionals and students in Medicine (particularly in Preventive Medicine and Public Health Medical Practices), as well as in Genetics, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics.