Genetic linkage and association analyses for trait mapping in Plasmodium falciparum

This article discuss the foundations for genetic linkage mapping and population association analysis of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.We review strategies of P. falciparum genetic crosses and of candidate-gene association, selection-based association and genome-wide association studies.We present an example of a trait (P. falciparum chloroquine resistance) that has been mapped to a single gene.We discuss the feasibility of dissecting complex traits that are determined by multiple genes.We survey methods for systematic and large-scale analysis of gene expression, polymorphism and selection.