Genetic traits
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Understanding Genetic Traits: Insights from Recent Research
Defining Genetic Traits: Genes and Environment
Genetic traits are the result of complex interactions between genes and the environment. A trait is considered genetic if genetic differences cause variability in that trait within a population. This distinction helps clarify the causal and classificatory language used in genetic research, avoiding theoretical and practical confusions1.
Complex Traits and Genetic Analysis
Phenotypic variation, which is central to evolutionary adaptations and disease susceptibility, poses challenges for genetic analysis due to gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, genetic heterogeneity, and low penetrance. Advances in genome resources and technologies are enabling the systematic identification of genes underlying these complex traits, providing new insights into their genetic basis2 4.
Shared Genetic Influences Across Multiple Traits
Recent studies have identified genetic variants associated with multiple phenotypes. For instance, a variant in the zinc transporter SLC39A8 influences several traits, including schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. These findings highlight the shared genetic causes among different traits and suggest causal relationships between traits, such as increased body mass index and triglyceride levels3.
Human Genetic Variation and Complex Traits
Efforts to catalog human genetic variation have linked common SNPs with many complex traits, including common diseases. However, only a limited portion of the heritable component of these traits has been identified. Future progress will depend on technological advances and a better understanding of the functional links between genetic variants and phenotypic traits4.
Genetic Mapping Through Artificial Selection
A novel approach to understanding the genetic basis of traits involves studying their inheritance patterns among offspring of phenotypically different parents. By using artificial selection and sequencing large populations, researchers have mapped numerous trait loci with high resolution, revealing significant changes in genetic background in response to selection5.
Evolution of Complex Traits and GWAS
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have begun to reveal the genetic basis of complex traits, which are highly heritable and genetically complex. These studies help us understand the processes that give rise to heritable variation and the genetic basis of complex trait evolution in response to changing selection pressures6.
Emergenic Traits: Genetic Traits Not Running in Families
Some traits, influenced by a configuration of polymorphic genes, may not appear genetic unless studied in monozygotic twins. These "emergenic" traits, such as leadership and certain psychopathological syndromes, emphasize the role of genetic variation in human affairs7.
Genetic Influence on Psychological Traits
Evidence shows that individual differences in psychological traits, both normal and abnormal, are significantly influenced by genetic factors. This has important implications for research in psychology, as it raises questions about the sources of variance in these traits8.
Pleiotropy and Genetic Architecture in Complex Traits
Systematic analyses of GWAS data have shown that trait-associated loci cover more than half of the genome, with many loci overlapping across multiple traits. This pleiotropy and variation in genetic architecture provide insights into how genetic variation contributes to trait variation9.
Genetic Differentiation in Quantitative Traits
Comparing genetic differentiation in neutral marker loci and genes coding quantitative traits reveals that natural selection plays a significant role in quantitative trait differentiation. The degree of genetic differentiation in neutral marker loci closely predicts the differentiation in loci coding quantitative traits10.
Conclusion
The study of genetic traits encompasses a wide range of research areas, from the identification of shared genetic influences across multiple traits to the understanding of complex trait evolution through GWAS. Advances in genetic technologies and methodologies continue to provide deeper insights into the genetic basis of traits, highlighting the intricate interplay between genes and the environment.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Genetic traits
Genetic traits are those that are influenced by genetic differences and individuated in a way that matches specific genetic factors, avoiding confusion and misunderstandings.
Finding Genes That Underlie Complex Traits
Emerging genome resources and technologies are enabling systematic identification of genes underlying complex traits, offering insights into evolutionary adaptations and individual susceptibility to common diseases.
Highly CitedDetection and interpretation of shared genetic influences on 42 human traits
341 genetic loci are associated with multiple human traits, revealing shared genetic causes and potential causal relationships between traits.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedHuman genetic variation and its contribution to complex traits
Technological advances and a clear understanding of the challenges in linking genetic variation to phenotypes are essential for future progress in understanding complex traits.
Highly CitedRevealing the genetic structure of a trait by sequencing a population under selection.
This study mapped 21 trait loci in yeast using artificial selection, providing higher resolution than traditional linkage methods and revealing potential functions of genes involved in heat stress response.
Highly CitedThinking About the Evolution of Complex Traits in the Era of Genome-Wide Association Studies.
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) can enhance our understanding of complex trait evolution and heritable variation, while evolutionary thinking helps interpret these findings and inform practical efforts.
Highly CitedEmergenesis. Genetic traits that may not run in families.
Emergenic traits, influenced by a configuration of polymorphic genes, may not run in families and may influence important human traits like leadership, genius, and psychopathological syndromes.
Highly CitedGenetic Influence on Human Psychological Traits
Genetic factors significantly influence individual differences in psychological traits, including personality, intelligence, psychological interests, psychiatric illnesses, and social attitudes.
Highly CitedA global overview of pleiotropy and genetic architecture in complex traits
Treatment-associated loci cover over half of the genome, with 90% overlapping with multiple traits, and genetic variation contributes to trait variation.
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedComparison of genetic differentiation at marker loci and quantitative traits
Quantitative trait differentiation often exceeds neutral marker gene differentiation, suggesting a prominent role for natural selection in population differentiation patterns.
Meta-AnalysisHighly Cited