With human genome sequencing nearly complete, the need for genetic analyses of complex human diseases and population polymorphisms is greatly magnified. This book is designed to maximize user-friendliness and appeal for an audience requiring further guidance but typically overwhelmed by this subject area.   The authors provide a practical background in statistical genetics for biologists and other non-mathematicians with an interest in performing genetic analyses. This "cookbook" presents step-by-step recipes to the most commonly performed analyses, allowing users to apply the principles to their own research.   Key features:   ·         Written in an engaging, non-technical style ·         Organized logically, starting with the basics and ending with more complex analyses ·         Allows researchers to perform genetic analyses without the help of a trained statistician ·         Incorporates guidelines on use of the most commonly used programs ·         Emphasis on providing practical applications to real problems with a minimum of mathematical equations ·         Includes a comprehensive glossary ·         Covers pedigree linkage, population association, complex diseases, and microarray data analyses ·         Includes an introduction to the essential concepts underlying genetic analysis