A recent publication in Nature describes the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that investigated genes, groups of genes, and variants associated with smoking and drinking. The study encompassed a total of 3,383,199 individuals and four major clines of global ancestry.
The researchers identified 3,823 associated variants (from 2,143 loci) with behaviors of smoking or drinking. Notable results include 39 variants associated with the age individuals began smoking, 243 with cigarettes per day, 206 with smoking cessation (former smokers), and 849 with the number of alcoholic drinks per week. The data used in this study was taken from genome-wide arrays, along with some additional data from deep whole-genome sequencing.
Despite the study's success, the results were limited by the diversity of the participants. In particular, the polygenic risk scores specific to individuals in the European ancestry group were poor predictors among the other ancestry groups. Although multiple ancestry groups were involved in this study, only 21% were of non-European descent, and several ancestry groups were excluded.
The authors note these shortcomings and explain that future studies will need to include more genetic diversity to increase our understanding of genetics and behavior.
Read the original journal article here.
-
Qadri offers efficient online services designed for students and staff of University Targu Mures Medical Campus Hamburg. We streamline your academic and administrative processes for a hassle-free experience.
VIsit us:
https://qadri-international.com/univ...s-hamburg-umch...Today, 09:33 PM -
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not code for proteins but play important roles in numerous cellular processes including gene silencing, developmental pathways, and more. There are numerous types including microRNA (miRNA), long ncRNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and more. In this article, we discuss innovative ncRNA research and explore recent technological advancements that improve the study of ncRNAs.
Nobel Prize for MicroRNA Discovery
This week,...Yesterday, 08:07 AM -
Metagenomics has improved the way researchers study microorganisms across diverse environments. Historically, studying microorganisms relied on culturing them in the lab, a method that limits the investigation of many species since most are unculturable1. Metagenomics overcomes these issues by allowing the study of microorganisms regardless of their ability to be cultured or the environments they inhabit. Over time, the field has evolved, especially with the advent...09-23-2024, 06:35 AM