A method for associating a gene G in the genome of a species with a
clinical trait T exhibited by one or more organisms in a plurality of
organisms of the species. An expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) is
identified for the gene G using a first quantitative trait loci (QTL)
analysis. The first QTL analysis uses a plurality of expression
statistics for gene G as a quantitative trait. Each expression statistic
in the plurality of expression statistics represents an expression value
for gene G in an organism in the plurality of organisms. A clinical
quantitative trait loci (cQTL) that is linked to the clinical trait T is
identified using a second QTL analysis. The second QTL analysis uses a
plurality of phenotypic values as a quantitative trait. Each phenotypic
value in the plurality of phenotypic values represents a phenotypic value
for the clinical trait T in an organism in the plurality of organisms.
When the eQTL and the cQTL colocalize to the same locus, the gene G is
associated with clinical trait T.