@article{TEXTUAL, recid = {12832}, author = {Gaynor, Michelle L. and Landis, Jacob B. and O'Connor, Timothy K. and Laport, Robert G. and Doyle, Jeff J. and Soltis, Douglas E. and Ponciano, José Miguel and Soltis, Pamela S.}, title = {nQuack: An R package for predicting ploidal level from sequence data using site-based heterozygosity}, journal = {Applications in Plant Sciences}, address = {2024-07-14}, number = {TEXTUAL}, abstract = {<p>Premise: Traditional methods of ploidal-level estimation are tedious; using DNA sequence data for cytotype estimation is an ideal alternative. Multiple statistical approaches to leverage sequence data for ploidy inference based on site-based heterozygosity have been developed. However, these approaches may require high-coverage sequence data, use inappropriate probability distributions, or have additional statistical shortcomings that limit inference abilities. We introduce nQuack, an open-source R package that addresses the main shortcomings of current methods.</p> <p>Methods and Results: nQuack performs model selection for improved ploidy predictions. Here, we implement expectation maximization algorithms with normal, beta, and beta-binomial distributions. Using extensive computer simulations that account for variability in sequencing depth, as well as real data sets, we demonstrate the utility and limitations of nQuack.</p> <p>Conclusions: Inferring ploidy based on site-based heterozygosity alone is difficult. Even though nQuack is more accurate than similar methods, we suggest caution when relying on any site-based heterozygosity method to infer ploidy.</p>}, url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/12832}, }