A framework to link whole genome SNP association studies to systems genetics

Abstract

One of the main outcomes from whole genome association studies (WGAS) are statistically significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This outcome would be enhanced if either biological meaning or potential functional roles for these SNPs are revealed. Such knowledge would enhance the process of marker- or gene-assisted selection (MAS/GAS), or at least would provide more understanding of the achieved genetic change. We develop and present an R package called 'FunctSNP', interfaced to a relational database, to add potential functional information to SNPs that have shown to be statistically significant in a WGAS. The approach and developed software has been designed in such away that the database can contain any model species.