Childhood
emotional
and
behavioural
difficulties
frequently
co-occur
often
precede
diagnosed
neuropsychiatric
conditions.
Delineating
shared
specific
risk
factors
for
early
in
life
is
therefore
essential
prevention
strategies.
Here,
we
focus
on
how
a
set
of
key
parental
shape
their
offspring’s
symptoms.
Leveraging
data
from
14,959
genotyped
family
trios
the
Norwegian
Mother,
Father
Child
Cohort
Study
(MoBa),
model
symptom
level
into
general
domains.
We
then
investigate
direct
(genetically
transmitted)
indirect
(environmentally
mediated)
contributions
polygenic
related
traits
to
observe
evidence
consistent
with
an
environmental
route
symptomatology
beyond
genetic
transmission,
while
also
demonstrating
domain-specific
contributions.
Our
findings
pave
way
better
identification
pathways
that
can
be
targeted
preventive
interventions
aiming
interrupt
intergenerational
cycle
transmission.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 20, 2024
Abstract
Although
rare
neurodevelopmental
conditions
have
a
large
Mendelian
component
1
,
common
genetic
variants
also
contribute
to
risk
2,3
.
However,
little
is
known
about
how
this
polygenic
distributed
among
patients
with
these
and
their
parents
nor
its
interplay
variants.
It
unclear
whether
background
affects
directly
through
alleles
transmitted
from
children,
or
indirect
effects
mediated
the
family
environment
4
play
role.
Here
we
addressed
questions
using
data
11,573
conditions,
9,128
of
26,869
controls.
Common
explained
around
10%
variance
in
risk.
Patients
monogenic
diagnosis
had
significantly
less
than
those
without,
supporting
liability
threshold
model
5
A
score
for
showed
only
direct
effect.
By
contrast,
scores
educational
attainment
cognitive
performance
no
effect,
but
non-transmitted
were
correlated
child’s
risk,
potentially
due
and/or
parental
assortment
traits
Indeed,
as
expected
under
assortment,
show
that
variant
predisposition
These
findings
indicate
future
studies
should
investigate
possible
role
nature
on
consider
contribution
simultaneously
when
studying
cognition-related
phenotypes.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 4, 2025
Abstract
Polygenic
scores
(PGSs)
are
being
rapidly
adopted
for
trait
prediction
in
the
clinic
and
beyond.
PGSs
often
thought
of
as
capturing
direct
genetic
effect
one’s
genotype
on
their
phenotype.
However,
because
constructed
from
population-level
associations,
they
influenced
by
factors
other
than
effects,
including
stratification,
assortative
mating,
dynastic
effects
(“SAD
effects”).
Our
interpretation
application
may
hinge
relative
impact
SAD
since
be
environmentally
or
culturally
mediated.
We
developed
a
method
that
estimates
proportion
variance
PGS
(in
given
sample)
is
driven
covariance.
leverage
comparison
interest
based
standard
GWAS
with
sibling
GWAS—which
largely
immune
to
effects—to
quantify
contribution
each
type
interest.
method,
Partitioning
Genetic
Scores
Using
Siblings
(PGSUS,
pron.
“Pegasus”),
breaks
down
components
further
axes
ancestry,
allowing
nuanced
effects.
In
particular,
PGSUS
can
detect
stratification
along
major
ancestry
well
“isotropic”
respect
ancestry.
Applying
PGSUS,
we
found
evidence
using
large
meta-analyses
height
educational
attainment
range
UK
Biobank.
some
instances,
appears
stratified
axis
one
sample
but
not
another
(for
example,
comparisons
samples
different
countries,
ancient
DNA
vs.
contemporary
samples).
Finally,
show
approaches
adjustment
population
structure
GWASs
have
distinct
advantages
mitigation
ancestry-axis-specific
isotropic
PGS.
study
illustrates
how
family-based
designs
combined
population-based
guide
genomic
predictors.
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 6, 2024
Abstract
Although
rare
neurodevelopmental
conditions
have
a
large
Mendelian
component,
common
genetic
variants
also
contribute
to
risk.
However,
little
is
known
about
how
this
polygenic
risk
distributed
among
patients
with
these
and
their
parents,
its
interplay
variants,
whether
parents’
background
contributes
children’s
beyond
the
direct
effect
of
transmitted
child
(i.e.
via
indirect
effects
potentially
mediated
through
prenatal
environment
or
‘genetic
nurture’).
Here,
we
addressed
questions
using
data
from
11,573
conditions,
9,128
parents
26,869
controls.
Common
explained
∼10%
variance
in
overall
Patients
monogenic
diagnosis
had
significantly
less
than
those
without,
supporting
liability
threshold
model,
while
both
genetically
undiagnosed
diagnosed
affected
more
In
trio-based
score
for
but
not
non-transmitted
parental
alleles
were
associated
risk,
indicating
effect.
contrast,
observed
no
scores
educational
attainment
cognitive
performance,
saw
significant
correlation
between
child’s
due
and/or
assortment
traits.
Indeed,
as
expected
under
assortment,
show
that
variant
predisposition
correlated
component
Our
findings
thus
suggest
future
studies
should
investigate
possible
role
nature
on
consider
contribution
simultaneously
when
studying
cognition-related
phenotypes.
Rapid
progress
has
been
made
in
identifying
links
between
human
genetic
variation
and
social
behavioral
phenotypes.Applications
mainstream
economics
are
beginning
to
emerge.This
review
aims
provide
the
background
needed
bring
interested
economist
frontier
of
social-science
genomics.Our
is
structured
around
a
theoretical
framework
that
nests
many
key
methods,
concepts
tools
found
literature.We
clarify
assumptions
appropriate
interpretations.After
reviewing
several
significant
applications,
we
conclude
by
outlining
future
advances
genetics
will
expand
scope
potential
discuss
ethical
communication
challenges
arise
this
area
research.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: March 18, 2025
Abstract
Childhood
emotional
and
behavioural
difficulties
tend
to
co-occur
often
precede
diagnosed
neuropsychiatric
conditions.
Identifying
shared
specific
risk
factors
for
early-life
mental
health
is
therefore
essential
prevention
strategies.
Here,
we
examine
how
parental
shape
their
offspring’s
symptoms
(e.g.
feelings
of
anxiety,
restlessness)
using
data
from
14,959
genotyped
family
trios
the
Norwegian
Mother,
Father
Child
Cohort
Study
(MoBa).
We
model
maternal
reports
symptoms,
organizing
them
into
general
domains.
then
investigate
direct
(genetically
transmitted)
indirect
(environmentally
mediated)
contributions
polygenic
neuropsychiatric-related
traits
whether
these
are
across
symptoms.
observe
evidence
consistent
with
an
environmental
route
symptomatology
beyond
genetic
transmission,
while
also
demonstrating
domain-specific
contributions.
These
findings
improve
our
understanding
early
pathways
that
can
be
targeted
in
preventive
interventions
aiming
interrupt
intergenerational
cycle
transmission.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 3, 2023
The
scientific
literature
has
seen
a
resurgence
of
interest
in
genetic
influences
on
human
behavior
and
socioeconomic
outcomes.
Such
studies
face
the
central
difficulty
distinguishing
possible
causal
influences,
particular
non-genetic
ones.
When
confounding
between
is
not
rigorously
addressed,
it
invites
over-
misinterpretation
data.
We
illustrate
breadth
this
problem
through
discussion
reanalysis
two
examples.
Clark
(2023)
suggested
that
patterns
similarity
social
status
relatives
indicate
largely
determined
by
one's
DNA.
show
paper's
conclusions
are
based
conflation
transmission,
such
as
wealth,
within
families.
Song
&
Zhang
(2024)
posited
variants
underlying
bisexual
maintained
population
because
they
also
affect
risk-taking
behavior,
thereby
conferring
an
evolutionary
fitness
advantage
increased
sexual
promiscuity.
In
case,
too,
we
explanations
cannot
be
distinguished,
but
only
one
chosen
presented
conclusion.
discuss
how
issues
apply
more
broadly
to
claim
establish
underpinnings
societal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 29, 2023
Abstract
Spatial
genetic
structure
observed
in
many
human
populations
is
large
part
attributed
to
past
demographic
events
and
isolation
by
distance.
However,
how
intensifying
migration
affects
this
remains
understudied.
Here
we
harness
a
sample
of
more
than
180
thousand
individuals
explore
the
correlates
consequences
contemporary
migrations
Estonia.
While
show
that
smoothens
genome-wide
structure,
it
intensifies
inter-regional
differences
polygenic
scores
(PGS)
for
certain
traits,
derived
both
from
population
as
well
within-sibship
studies.
The
strongest
effect
educational
attainment
which
consistent
with
previous
observations
UK
suggests
be
general
pattern.
We
those
regional
PGS
terms
driving
forces
behind
them
temporal
perspective,
suggest
urbanisation
major
driver
pattern
Estonia
at
least
first
half
20th
century.