My research focuses on problems in statistical and computational genetics. In general, my interests are in developing both new mathematical methods and computational techniques to overcome complex problems in the analysis of genetic data. I believe that by providing improved methods to researchers that make more efficient use of data as well as integrate a wider range of information, I will have a positive impact on the scientific insights and conclusions that are drawn. I have recently been concentrating my research in the area of complex trait mapping, with application to the analysis of quantitative traits in the Hutterites. The size and complexity of the Hutterite pedigree (13 generations, 1,623 individuals) make most standard analyses intractable, unless drastic simplifications of the genealogy are undertaken. Instead, Drs. Mary Sara McPeek, Carole Ober and I have developed methods for linkage and linkage disequilibrium mapping within the variance component framework that makes full use of the pedigree information (Abney et al 2000, 2002). Further work with Dr. McPeek includes implementation of a novel permutation-based test of significance.

Selected Publications

Abney M, McPeek MS, Ober C (2000) Estimation of variance components of quantitative traits in inbred populations. Am J Hum Genet 66:629-650.PDF

Abney M, McPeek MS, Ober C (2001) Narrow and broad heritabilities of quantitative traits in a founder population. Am J Hum Genet 68:1302-1307. PDF

Sun L, Abney M, McPeek MS (2001) Detection of misspecified relationships in inbred and outbred pedigrees. Genet Epidemiol 21:S36-S41.

Ober C, Abney M, McPeek MS (2001) The genetic dissection of complex traits in a founder population. Am J Hum Genet 69:1068-1079 PDF

Abney M, Ober C & McPeek MS (2002) Quantitative trait homozygosity and association mapping and empirical genomewide significance in large complex pedigrees: Fasting serum insulin levels in the Hutterites. Am J Hum Genet 70: 920-934. PDF

Weiss LA, Pan L, Abney M, Ober C (2006) The sex-specific genetic architecture of quantitative traits in humans. Nature Genetics 38: 218–222.

Pan L, Ober C, Abney M (2007) Heritability estimation of sex-specific effects on human quantitative traits. Genetic Epidemiology 31: 338–347.