Genetic interactions drive heterogeneity in causal variant effect sizes for gene expression and complex traits.

ABSTRACT: Despite the growing number of genome-wide association studies (GWASs), it remains unclear to what extent gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions influence complex traits in humans. The magnitude of genetic interactions in complex traits has been difficult to quantify because GWASs are generally underpowered to detect individual interactions of small effect. Here, we develop a method to test for genetic interactions that aggregates information across all trait-associated loci. Specifically, we test whether SNPs in regions of European ancestry shared between European American and admixed African American individuals have the same causal effect sizes. We hypothesize that in African Americans, the presence of genetic interactions will drive the causal effect sizes of SNPs in regions

SUBMITTER: Patel RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9300878 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature