Suggestive evidence of linkage with reading disability in a large norwegian family

We screened a large multiplex family, segregating reading disability (RD) using 322 microsatellite markers distributed throughout the genome at average intervals of 10.82cM. Average marker heterozygosity was 0.78. RD was defined by phonological (non-word reading) and orthographic deficits (spelling). The family consisted of 23 individuals with 13 affecteds under narrow diagnosis and 16 affecteds under a broad diagnosis. Data were analyzed using MLINK under dominant and recessive models, with a penetrance of 50%. LOD scores were maximized using the MMLS method. Allele frequencies were determined using ILINK. Preliminary analysis shows the most significant finding on chromosome 22 with a MMLS of 1.2 after correcting for multiple testing at D22S420 under a narrow diagnosis.