Age trends in human chiasma frequencies and recombination fractions. II. Method for analyzing recombination fractions and applications to the ABO:nail-patella linkage.

A new method is presented for studying the relationship between human recombination fractions and parental age at the time of conception. Assuming the sex specific recombination fraction to be a linear function of age, a feasible computer algorithm is described whereby the likelihood of multigenerational families can be calculated. Using this method and the likelihood ratio test, it is found that for the ABO:nail-patella linkage age (P= .17)is more significant than sex (p= .23) in its effect on the recombination fraction. The age effect, if it is real, appears to be limited to males: the paternal recombination fraction decreases by .0062(+/- .0036) per year.