Interpreting a genetic case-control finding: What can be said, what cannot be said and implications in Indian populations

Identification of genetic variants responsible for complex disorders using association mapping is an active area of research. There are two broad classes of association methodologies: population-based case-control studies and family-based transmission analyses. While case-control analyses are more popular and in general, more powerful than family-based analyses, they suffer from some inherent limitations. Thus, it is of importance, to understand the implications of an association finding obtained from a case-control study design. This article discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two classes of association analyses, particularly in the context of genetic diversity in Indian populations.