My research group tackles the following questions. What is the nature and extent of genetic variation within and between human populations? What are the biological and evolutionary processes that have produced the observed patterns of variation? How do genotypes contribute to phenotypes for complex traits (and how can we identify the relevant genetic variants)?
In our work, we develop new statistical methods for genetic analysis and also analyze data from humans and other organisms. Much of our statistical work makes use of computationally intensive approaches such as Markov chain Monte Carlo; these approaches can be effective for extracting subtle signals from large and complex data sets. In general, we aim to tackle problems where careful analysis, usually from a population genetic perspective, seems likely to yield new biological insights.
The scope of our past and ongoing research includes work in four main areas: (i) methods for gene mapping of complex traits; (ii) inference of population structure from genetic data; (iii) history and structure of human populations; and (iv) genome variation and evolution. We also distribute a number of programs and software packages, including the popular package structure for inferring population structure from genetic data [see Software link on the Pritchard Lab Home Page].
We are based in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago. Both our department, and the university in general, are very strong in population genetics, complex traits, and evolutionary biology. In particular we enjoy close ties with the labs led by Molly Przeworski, Matthew Stephens, Anna Di Rienzo, Nancy Cox and Carole Ober.
Selected Publications
A Map of Recent Positive Selection in the Human Genome. B. F. Voight, S. Kudaravalli, X. Wen and J. K. Pritchard 2006. PLoS Biol 4(3): e72 [PDF], [Haplotter]
A high-resolution survey of deletion polymorphism in the human genome. D. F. Conrad, T D. Andrews, N. P. Carter, M. E. Hurles and J. K. Pritchard 2006. Nature Genetics., 38:75-81. [PDF]
Coalescent-based association mapping and fine mapping of complex trait loci S. Zöllner and J. K. Pritchard 2005. Genetics,169(2):1071-92 [PDF]
The genetic structure of human populations. N.A. Rosenberg, J.K. Pritchard, J.L. Weber, H.M. Cann, K.K. Kidd, L.A. Zhivotovsky and M.W. Feldman, 2002. Science, 298: 2381-2385. [PDF]
Linkage disequilibrium in humans: models and data. J.K. Pritchard and M. Przeworski, 2001. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 69:1-14 [PDF]
Inference of population structure using multilocus genotype data. J.K. Pritchard, M. Stephens and P. J. Donnelly, 2000. Genetics 155: 945-959. [PDF], [Software].
Use of unlinked genetic markers to detect population stratification in association studies. JK Pritchard and NA Rosenberg 1999. Am. J. of Hum. Gen. 65: 220-228. [PDF]
Population growth of human Y chromosomes: a study of Y chromosome microsatellites. JK Pritchard, MT Seielstad, A Perez-Lezaun and MW Feldman 1999. Mol. Biol. Evol., 16:1791-1798. [PDF]
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