Why it is hard to find genes associated with social science traits: theoretical and empirical considerations.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We explain why traits of interest to behavioral scientists may have a genetic architecture featuring hundreds or thousands of loci with tiny individual effects rather than a few with large effects and why such an architecture makes it difficult to find robust associations between traits and genes.

Methods

We conducted a genome-wide association study at 2 sites, Harvard University and Union College, measuring more than 100 physical and behavioral traits with a sample size typical of candidate gene studies. We evaluated predictions that alleles with large effect sizes would be rare and most traits of interest to social science are likely characterized by a lack of strong directional selection. We also carried out a theoretical analysis of the genetic architecture of

SUBMITTER: Chabris CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3778125 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature