Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
ISSN 1673-1581(Print), 1862-1783(Online), Monthly

2007   Vol. 8   No. 11   p. 815~821

WOMBAT—A tool for mixed model analyses in quantitative genetics by restricted maximum likelihood (REML)

MEYER Karin

(Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia)
E-mail: kmeyer@didgeridoo.une.edu.au
Received Sept. 12, 2007 revision accepted Sept. 14, 2007

Abstract: WOMBAT is a software package for quantitative genetic analyses of continuous traits, fitting a linear, mixed model; estimates of covariance components and the resulting genetic parameters are obtained by restricted maximum likelihood. A wide range of models, comprising numerous traits, multiple fixed and random effects, selected genetic covariance structures, random regression models and reduced rank estimation are accommodated. WOMBAT employs up-to-date numerical and computational methods. Together with the use of efficient compilers, this generates fast executable programs, suitable for large scale analyses. Use of WOMBAT is illustrated for a bivariate analysis. The package consists of the executable program, available for LINUX and WINDOWS environments, manual and a set of worked example, and can be downloaded free of charge from http://agbu. une.edu.au/~kmeyer/wombat.html

Key words: Software, Variance components, Genetic parameters, Mixed model, Restricted maximum likelihood
doi:10.1631/jzus.2007.B0815             CLC number: Q78; TP31

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