Genomic selection using a fast EM algorithm. Part 1, Understanding the methodology

The paper uses the technical computer software Mathematica® to explain the features inherent in the procedure emBayesB which is a fast EM algorithm for implementing genomic selection by mapping QTL in genome-wide dense SNP marker data. The prior mixture for a SNP effect and the bimodal shape of the posterior distribution of a SNP effect are displayed graphically, along with visualisations and calculations of how emBayesB estimates genomic breeding values. The companion paper (Shepherd et al. 2009) uses emBayesB to analyse simulated data.