identix, a software to test for relatedness in a population using permutation methods

The computer program identix estimates relatedness in natural populations using multilocus genotypic data. Queller & Goodnight's (1989) and Lynch & Ritland's (1999) estimators of pairwise relatedness are implemented, as well as the identity index of Mathieu et al . (1990). Estimates of the confidence intervals around these pairwise values are also provided. The null hypothesis of no relatedness (multilocus genotypes are independent draws from a panmictic population) is tested using a permutation method that compares the observed distribution of the moments of pairwise relatedness coefficients to that expected in unstructured population.