<p> In this dissertation I addressed the problem of SNP array bias when finding runs of ho- mozygosity. I demonstrated the pitfalls of using uninformed methods for finding runs of homozygosity and provide better alternatives, including a more reliable algorithm for identi- fying runs of homozygosity than the most commonly used program. I then provide a review of Ashkenazi population genetics. Next, I developed software to efficiently run millions of whole chromosome simulations, which is publicly available through GitHub, DockerHub, and on the CyVerse Discovery Environment. I applied my computational method to use Approximate Bayesian Computation to test models of Ashkenazi Jewish demographic his- tory. I found that the Ashkenazi Jews are comprised of genetically distinct subgroups from Eastern and Western Europe, as a result of massive population growth in the Eastern Ashkenazi Jews, but not in the Western Ashkenazi Jews. I further confirmed that the Ashkenazi Jews do not primarily originate from Khazaria. Finally, I created a correction for SNP array ascertainment bias in the median and total length of runs of homozygosity, and applied this correction to world-wide human populations. However, I found that ascertainment bias plays a minor role compared to SNP array bias in human populations. </p><p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10839026 |
| Date | 10 August 2018 |
| Creators | Gladstein, Ariella |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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