在许多复杂情况下, 贝叶斯统计方法比经典数理统计方法能更直接解决问题, 且可有效整合部分先验信息, 但其需要高强度计算的特性曾限制了其广泛应用。近几十年来, 随着高速计算机的发展以及MCMC算法的不断提出, 贝叶斯方法已被用于群体遗传学、分子进化、连锁作图和数量遗传学等研究领域, 文章综述了数量遗传学中QTL作图的贝叶斯方法从简单到复杂的发展历程。

In many cases, Bayesian methods can solve problems of interest more directly than a classical approach. Its utility lies on the incorporation of prior information. In recent years, with the development of high-speed computer and advances of MCMC algorithm, Bayesian methods have been employed in many genetic areas, such as population genetics, molecular evolution, linkage mapping, and quantitative genetics and so on. In this review, we reviewed the development of Bayesian approaches for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in quantitative genetics.