Population-based genomewide genetic analysis of common clinical chemistry analytes.
BACKGROUND
Recent technologies enable genetic association studies of common clinical analytes on a genomewide basis in populations numbering thousands of individuals. The first publications using these technologies are already revealing novel biological functions for both genic and nongenic loci, and are promising to transform knowledge about the biological networks underlying disease pathophysiology. These early studies have also led to development of a set of principles for conducting a successful genomewide association study (GWAS).


BACKGROUND
This review focuses on these principles with emphasis on the use of GWAS for plasma-based analytes to better understand human disease, with examples from cardiovascular biology.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation of common genetic variation on a genomewide basis with clinical analytes, or any other outcome of interest, promises to reveal how parts of the genome work together in human physiology. Nonetheless, performing a genomewide association study demands an awareness of very specific epidemiologic and analytic principles.
Chasman
Daniel I
DI
Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA. dchasman@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Paré
Guillaume
G
Ridker
Paul M
PM
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000379:methods*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein