Analysis of Human Genetic Data

Dr. Jurg Ott is a pioneer in the field of statistical genetic analysis and authored the first publicly accessible computer program on human linkage analysis. His work led to some of the first methods for computer simulation in family pedigrees and provided the statistical framework underlying newer approaches to haplotype relative risk methods that have become important tools in the search for disease-marker associations. This special issue of 'Human Heredity' is inspired by the seminar work performed by Dr. Jürg Ott over his amazing career. There are papers ranging from review work on linkage analysis performed by Dr. Jurg Ott early in his career, to new statistical methods for next-generation sequencing utilizing the SumStat approach method for multilocus inheritance, which was developed within the last several years. Anyone interested in statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology, novel methods, and state of the art technologies for analyzing the next wave of genetic data will benefit from reading this issue.