Identify LD blocks based on hierarchical spatial data

A domain where recombination does not occur often, yet maintained linkage disequilibrium exists on DNA sequence is known as a “haplotype block” or “LD block”. Many methods are available to identify LD blocks using disequilibrium parameters, such as the well-known Gabriel's method, Zhu's method and so on. We considered that Echelon analysis can be applied to identify LD block, and report herein that LD blocks can be identified according to our new method applying Echelon analysis. The results of numerical examples are also provided.