Variance Components and Related Methods for Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci

Variance components methods have been used in various aspects of genetic analysis for many decades. This article discusses their application to data on quantitative traits for the estimation of polygenic and environmental variances as well as, for the detection of quantitative trait loci using methods of linkage and association. Multivariate approaches are discussed, along with regression-based related methods. Additionally, examples of the application of these methods from the literature are presented.