In order to find novel candidate asthma genes, we used a combination of approaches, aimed at facilitating the identification of loci that are associated with asthma based on only weak statistical support, yet nevertheless are likely to be true positives. One important property of our study is the focus on an intermediate quantitative trait, lymphocyte counts, which is associated with asthma in the Hutterites (25). By identifying genes that influence variation in lymphocyte counts, we hoped to obtain simultaneous information on both the genetic architecture and the relevant functional mechanisms that are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.
