Allelic expression ratios resulted from collaborative effects of different alleles of multiple functional SNPs.

<p>Allele M1 and M2 of the marker SNP indicating AEI correspond to the alleles of single <i>cis</i>-acting SNP or the haplotypes consisting of multiple <i>cis</i>-acting SNPs which are in the same phase with M1 and M2. Positive-effect alleles associated with high gene expression are denoted in pink, and negative-effect alleles associated with low expression are denoted in cyan. In the left panel, allelic expression ratios clearly indicate the effect of single <i>cis</i>-acting SNP. In the right panel, allelic expression ratios are blurred by multiple <i>cis</i>-acting effects.