--mac vs --maf on dosage

12 views
Skip to first unread message

Yang Li

unread,
Jan 30, 2026, 1:06:43 PM (5 days ago) Jan 30
to plink2-users
Hi Chris,

I'm using Plink2 for GWAS and wondering:
1. will --mac be redundant with --maf on large sample size  when mac_threshold <= maf_threhold*sample_size ?
2. will --mac use any dosage information? If not, does --mac count for the alleles with least count for multi-allelic sites?

Thanks,
Yang

Chris Chang

unread,
Jan 31, 2026, 4:10:47 PM (3 days ago) Jan 31
to Yang Li, plink2-users
1. Yes, if there are no missing dosages, --mac is redundant with --maf in that scenario.  Note that missing dosages don't count toward sample size.

2a. Yes, plink2 --mac uses dosages when they are available.  The online documentation has been clarified accordingly.

2b. Concerning multiallelic variants, from the online documentation:
By default, these flags operate on 'nonmajor' (i.e. sum of all but the largest value) allele frequencies/dosages. Three other modes are supported: 'nref' (nonreference), 'alt1', and 'minor' (smallest). You can use bcftools-style freq:mode notation for this.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "plink2-users" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to plink2-users...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/plink2-users/9861c43c-c0e4-41e4-920e-0cde474b12b6n%40googlegroups.com.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages