COMPUTING INBREEDING AND RELATIONSHIP COEFFICIENTS

Abstract

The genetic analysis of populations frequently requires computing inbreeding and relationship coefficients from extended pedigrees for groups of individuals. This may ‘be needed for periodic summaries, for planning experimental matings, or for making special studies of accumulated data. Lush and co-workers(1,3) adapted the punched card system to a sampling process for the pedigree analysis of pure breeds of livestock. The present paper shows how punched cards can be used to reduce the computing of inbreeding and relationship coefficients from complete pedigrees to a routine procedure, largely mechanical and clerical in operation. The method is accurate, even in cases where irregular inbreeding has been practiced, and it saves labor even when the populations being studied are small.