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The coefficient of common identity

Alan E. Stark^I; Paulo A. Otto^{I, II}

^ISchool of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, P.O. Box 1, Kensington, New South Wales 2033, Australia
^IIOn leave from the Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11.461, 05499 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to P.A.O., at this address

ABSTRACT

In this paper we introduce a probabilistic coefficient which measures the closeness of relationship of two individuals with respect to an autosomal locus. This coefficient, here called the coefficient of common identity, can be used to calculate the probability that a gene expressed in an index case is present in another member of the family. In the past this need has been met by the coe^fficient of relationship. The improper use of this last coefficient is discussed.

Keywords: coefficient; identity.

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