title: Genome partitioning of genetic variation for complex traits using common SNPs.
abstract: We estimate and partition genetic variation for height, body mass index (BMI), von Willebrand factor and QT interval (QTi) using 586,898 SNPs genotyped on 11,586 unrelated individuals. We estimate that ∼45%, ∼17%, ∼25% and ∼21% of the variance in height, BMI, von Willebrand factor and QTi, respectively, can be explained by all autosomal SNPs and a further ∼0.5-1% can be explained by X chromosome SNPs. We show that the variance explained by each chromosome is proportional to its length, and that SNPs in or near genes explain more variation than SNPs between genes. We propose a new approach to estimate variation due to cryptic relatedness and population stratification. Our results provide further evidence that a substantial proportion of heritability is captured by common SNPs, that height, BMI and QTi are highly polygenic traits, and that the additive variation explained by a part of the genome is approximately proportional to the total length of DNA contained within genes therein.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Statistical Genetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Teri A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Manolio
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boerwinkle
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caporaso
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Mariza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Bjarke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feenstra
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feingold
authors.forename: M Geoffrey
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lettre
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Rasika A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melbye
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Marilyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornelis
authors.forename: Bruce S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Visscher
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002875:Chromosomes; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor