TY - JOUR
T1 - Dissecting polygenic signals from genome-wide association studies on human behaviour
AU - Abdellaoui, Abdel
AU - Verweij, Karin J. H.
N1 - Funding Information: A.A. and K.J.H.V. are supported by the Foundation Volksbond Rotterdam. A.A. is also supported by ZonMw grant no. 849200011 from The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Genome-wide association studies on human behavioural traits are producing large amounts of polygenic signals with significant predictive power and potentially useful biological clues. Behavioural traits are more distal and are less directly under biological control compared with physical characteristics, which makes the associated genetic effects harder to interpret. The results of genome-wide association studies for human behaviour are likely made up of a composite of signals from different sources. While sample sizes continue to increase, we outline additional steps that need to be taken to better delineate the origin of the increasingly stronger polygenic signals. In addition to genetic effects on the traits themselves, the major sources of polygenic signals are those that are associated with correlated traits, environmental effects and ascertainment bias. Advances in statistical approaches that disentangle polygenic effects from different traits as well as extending data collection to families and social circles with better geographical coverage will probably contribute to filling the gap of knowledge between genetic effects and behavioural outcomes.
AB - Genome-wide association studies on human behavioural traits are producing large amounts of polygenic signals with significant predictive power and potentially useful biological clues. Behavioural traits are more distal and are less directly under biological control compared with physical characteristics, which makes the associated genetic effects harder to interpret. The results of genome-wide association studies for human behaviour are likely made up of a composite of signals from different sources. While sample sizes continue to increase, we outline additional steps that need to be taken to better delineate the origin of the increasingly stronger polygenic signals. In addition to genetic effects on the traits themselves, the major sources of polygenic signals are those that are associated with correlated traits, environmental effects and ascertainment bias. Advances in statistical approaches that disentangle polygenic effects from different traits as well as extending data collection to families and social circles with better geographical coverage will probably contribute to filling the gap of knowledge between genetic effects and behavioural outcomes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105821360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01110-y
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01110-y
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33986517
SN - 2397-3374
VL - 5
SP - 686
EP - 694
JO - Nature Human Behaviour
JF - Nature Human Behaviour
IS - 6
ER -