Cover image

A method to associate combinations of rare variants with complex traits, such as autism and intellectual disability, using the Apriori algorithm is shown. The grocery store symbolizes market-basket analysis, a popular application of this algorithm, which identifies customer purchasing patterns to increase sales. For example, customers purchasing milk are more likely to purchase bread and eggs. Here, the mother carries a single rare variant (red jar) while the affected child wearing a superhero cape has a rare variant in addition to the variant he inherits from his mother (purple and red jars). Also shown in the background are gray jars signifying common variants. (Cover art by Ella Maru Studio [https://www.scientific-illustrations.com/]. [For details, see Pounraja and Girirajan, pp. 904–915.])