Finding genes that underlie complex traits.
Phenotypic variation among organisms is central to evolutionary adaptations underlying natural and artificial selection, and also determines individual susceptibility to common diseases. These types of complex traits pose special challenges for genetic analysis because of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, genetic heterogeneity, low penetrance, and limited statistical power. Emerging genome resources and technologies are enabling systematic identification of genes underlying these complex traits. We propose standards for proof of gene discovery in complex traits and evaluate the nature of the genes identified to date. These proof-of-concept studies demonstrate the insights that can be expected from the accelerating pace of gene discovery in this field.
Glazier
Anne M
AM
Physiological Genomics and Medicine Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Ducane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
Nadeau
Joseph H
JH
Aitman
Timothy J
TJ
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA