Family genotype data, though difficult to collect, often provide a more effective way of testing markers for association with disease status than case-control data. Case-control data can uncover significant associations between markers and a disease that could be caused by
factors other than
linkage, such as
population structure. Analyzing family data by using the
SAS FAMILY procedure ensures that any significant associations found between a marker and disease status are due to linkage between the marker and disease
loci. This is accomplished by using the transmission/disequilibrium test (
TDT) and several variations of it that can accommodate different types of family data.
The TDT test is selected by default. If
none of the tests are specified,
all are performed.