2025 CR Forum Top Ten| Diversity and Scale: Genetic Architecture of 2068 Traits in Veteran Program

Описание: This study analyzed the genetic data of over 635,000 U.S. Veterans from diverse backgrounds to better understand how genes influence over 2,000 health and disease traits across different population groups. A key finding was that including data from diverse participants led to the discovery of over 3,400 new genetic links to various traits that were not detectable when only studying European ancestry individuals. This highlights the importance of diversity in genetic research. The study also found that the genetic basis for most traits is largely similar across population groups. The main differences observed were attributed to the fact that some genetic variation was common in certain groups but less frequent in others, rather than variants having drastically different effects. By using advanced computational methods, the researchers were able to pinpoint the specific genetic variants most likely responsible for influencing different traits. This level of precision helps identify potential genes involved in disease processes and jump start functional experiments to elucidate the underlying genetic mechanisms involved. This analysis revealed genes that influence multiple different traits, providing insights into biological connections between various health conditions. Some genes showed different patterns of influence across population groups, potentially explaining some health disparities. Overall, this large-scale study demonstrates the value of including diverse participants in genetic research. It expands our understanding of the genetic factors influencing health and disease across populations, while also showing that much of our genetic makeup functions similarly regardless of ancestry. These findings lay important groundwork for developing more equitable approaches to genetic testing and precision medicine for all populations.