Inference of recombinational hotspots using gametic disequilibrium values.

Gametic disequilibrium between RFLP sites have been used to infer recombinational hotspots. However, some measures of gametic disequilibrium, such as the correlation coefficient, are quite dependent upon allelic frequencies. The normalized disequilibrium measure of Lewontin, on the other hand, is independent of allelic frequencies. Data from the beta-globin gene cluster are used as an illustration of such potential misinterpretations and the use of these measures.