title: Higher-order genetic interactions and their contribution to complex traits.
abstract: The contribution of genetic interactions involving three or more loci to complex traits is poorly understood. These higher-order genetic interactions (HGIs) are difficult to detect in genetic mapping studies, therefore, few examples of them have been described. However, the lack of data on HGIs should not be misconstrued as proof that this class of genetic effect is unimportant. To the contrary, evidence from model organisms suggests that HGIs frequently influence genetic studies and contribute to many complex traits. Here, we review the growing literature on HGIs and discuss the future of research on this topic.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way RRI 201B, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2910, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way RRI 201B, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2910, USA. Electronic address: Ian.Ehrenreich@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ehrenreich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable
keywords: complex traits; epistasis; genetic interactions; higher-order epistasis; higher-order genetic interactions