title: Methods for meta-analysis of genetic data.
abstract: Modern genetic association studies, using genome-wide genotype data, are often underpowered. Meta-analyses of multiple studies performing genome-wide genotyping improve power and have led to the identification of thousands of genotype-trait associations. This unit provides an overview of the key concepts required for genetic meta-analyses, and presents strategic approaches and key decisions that must be made in the process of performing genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses. The commentary discusses the interpretation of GWAS meta-analysis results, complications, and some of the possible next steps once a GWAS meta-analysis has successfully identified regions associated with a trait.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lunetta
mesh_terms: D030541:Databases, Genetic; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012984:Software