{"title":"Thinking About the Evolution of Complex Traits in the Era of Genome-Wide Association Studies.","authors":"Guy Sella, Nicholas H Barton","doi":"10.1146/annurev-genom-083115-022316","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many traits of interest are highly heritable and genetically complex, meaning that much of the variation they exhibit arises from differences at numerous loci in the genome. Complex traits and their evolution have been studied for more than a century, but only in the last decade have genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in humans begun to reveal their genetic basis. Here, we bring these threads of research together to ask how findings from GWASs can further our understanding of the processes that give rise to heritable variation in complex traits and of the genetic basis of complex trait evolution in response to changing selection pressures (i.e., of polygenic adaptation). Conversely, we ask how evolutionary thinking helps us to interpret findings from GWASs and informs related efforts of practical importance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8231,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of genomics and human genetics","volume":"20 ","pages":"461-493"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7000,"publicationDate":"2019-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1146/annurev-genom-083115-022316","citationCount":"143","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annual review of genomics and human genetics","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genom-083115-022316","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2019/7/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 143
Abstract
Many traits of interest are highly heritable and genetically complex, meaning that much of the variation they exhibit arises from differences at numerous loci in the genome. Complex traits and their evolution have been studied for more than a century, but only in the last decade have genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in humans begun to reveal their genetic basis. Here, we bring these threads of research together to ask how findings from GWASs can further our understanding of the processes that give rise to heritable variation in complex traits and of the genetic basis of complex trait evolution in response to changing selection pressures (i.e., of polygenic adaptation). Conversely, we ask how evolutionary thinking helps us to interpret findings from GWASs and informs related efforts of practical importance.
期刊介绍:
Since its inception in 2000, the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics has been dedicated to showcasing significant developments in genomics as they pertain to human genetics and the human genome. The journal emphasizes genomic technology, genome structure and function, genetic modification, human variation and population genetics, human evolution, and various aspects of human genetic diseases, including individualized medicine.