TY - JOUR T1 - Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment. JF - Nature Y1 - 2016 A1 - Okbay, Aysu A1 - Beauchamp, Jonathan P A1 - Fontana, Mark Alan A1 - Lee, James J A1 - Pers, Tune H A1 - Rietveld, Cornelius A A1 - Turley, Patrick A1 - Chen, Guo-Bo A1 - Emilsson, Valur A1 - Meddens, S Fleur W A1 - Oskarsson, Sven A1 - Pickrell, Joseph K A1 - Thom, Kevin A1 - Timshel, Pascal A1 - de Vlaming, Ronald A1 - Abdellaoui, Abdel A1 - Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S A1 - Bacelis, Jonas A1 - Baumbach, Clemens A1 - Bjornsdottir, Gyda A1 - Brandsma, Johannes H A1 - Pina Concas, Maria A1 - Derringer, Jaime A1 - Furlotte, Nicholas A A1 - Galesloot, Tessel E A1 - Girotto, Giorgia A1 - Gupta, Richa A1 - Hall, Leanne M A1 - Harris, Sarah E A1 - Hofer, Edith A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Huffman, Jennifer E A1 - Kaasik, Kadri A1 - Kalafati, Ioanna P A1 - Karlsson, Robert A1 - Kong, Augustine A1 - Lahti, Jari A1 - van der Lee, Sven J A1 - deLeeuw, Christiaan A1 - Lind, Penelope A A1 - Lindgren, Karl-Oskar A1 - Liu, Tian A1 - Mangino, Massimo A1 - Marten, Jonathan A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Miller, Michael B A1 - van der Most, Peter J A1 - Oldmeadow, Christopher A1 - Payton, Antony A1 - Pervjakova, Natalia A1 - Peyrot, Wouter J A1 - Qian, Yong A1 - Raitakari, Olli A1 - Rueedi, Rico A1 - Salvi, Erika A1 - Schmidt, Börge A1 - Schraut, Katharina E A1 - Shi, Jianxin A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Poot, Raymond A A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Thorleifsson, Gudmar A1 - Verweij, Niek A1 - Vuckovic, Dragana A1 - Wellmann, Juergen A1 - Westra, Harm-Jan A1 - Yang, Jingyun A1 - Zhao, Wei A1 - Zhu, Zhihong A1 - Alizadeh, Behrooz Z A1 - Amin, Najaf A1 - Bakshi, Andrew A1 - Baumeister, Sebastian E A1 - Biino, Ginevra A1 - Bønnelykke, Klaus A1 - Boyle, Patricia A A1 - Campbell, Harry A1 - Cappuccio, Francesco P A1 - Davies, Gail A1 - De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel A1 - Deloukas, Panos A1 - Demuth, Ilja A1 - Ding, Jun A1 - Eibich, Peter A1 - Eisele, Lewin A1 - Eklund, Niina A1 - Evans, David M A1 - Faul, Jessica D A1 - Feitosa, Mary F A1 - Forstner, Andreas J A1 - Gandin, Ilaria A1 - Gunnarsson, Bjarni A1 - Halldórsson, Bjarni V A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Heath, Andrew C A1 - Hocking, Lynne J A1 - Holliday, Elizabeth G A1 - Homuth, Georg A1 - Horan, Michael A A1 - Hottenga, Jouke-Jan A1 - de Jager, Philip L A1 - Joshi, Peter K A1 - Jugessur, Astanand A1 - Kaakinen, Marika A A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Kanoni, Stavroula A1 - Keltigangas-Järvinen, Liisa A1 - Kiemeney, Lambertus A L M A1 - Kolcic, Ivana A1 - Koskinen, Seppo A1 - Kraja, Aldi T A1 - Kroh, Martin A1 - Kutalik, Zoltán A1 - Latvala, Antti A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Lebreton, Maël P A1 - Levinson, Douglas F A1 - Lichtenstein, Paul A1 - Lichtner, Peter A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Loukola, Anu A1 - Madden, Pamela A A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Mäki-Opas, Tomi A1 - Marioni, Riccardo E A1 - Marques-Vidal, Pedro A1 - Meddens, Gerardus A A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Meisinger, Christa A1 - Meitinger, Thomas A1 - Milaneschi, Yusplitri A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Myhre, Ronny A1 - Nelson, Christopher P A1 - Nyholt, Dale R A1 - Ollier, William E R A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Paternoster, Lavinia A1 - Pedersen, Nancy L A1 - Petrovic, Katja E A1 - Porteous, David J A1 - Räikkönen, Katri A1 - Ring, Susan M A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Rostapshova, Olga A1 - Rudan, Igor A1 - Rustichini, Aldo A1 - Salomaa, Veikko A1 - Sanders, Alan R A1 - Sarin, Antti-Pekka A1 - Schmidt, Helena A1 - Scott, Rodney J A1 - Smith, Blair H A1 - Smith, Jennifer A A1 - Staessen, Jan A A1 - Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth A1 - Strauch, Konstantin A1 - Terracciano, Antonio A1 - Tobin, Martin D A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Vaccargiu, Simona A1 - Quaye, Lydia A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Venturini, Cristina A1 - Vinkhuyzen, Anna A E A1 - Völker, Uwe A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - Vonk, Judith M A1 - Vozzi, Diego A1 - Waage, Johannes A1 - Ware, Erin B A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Attia, John R A1 - Bennett, David A A1 - Berger, Klaus A1 - Bertram, Lars A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Borecki, Ingrid B A1 - Bültmann, Ute A1 - Chabris, Christopher F A1 - Cucca, Francesco A1 - Cusi, Daniele A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Dedoussis, George V A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Franke, Barbara A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Gejman, Pablo V A1 - Gieger, Christian A1 - Grabe, Hans-Jörgen A1 - Gratten, Jacob A1 - Groenen, Patrick J F A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - van der Harst, Pim A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Hinds, David A A1 - Hoffmann, Wolfgang A1 - Hyppönen, Elina A1 - Iacono, William G A1 - Jacobsson, Bo A1 - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Jöckel, Karl-Heinz A1 - Kaprio, Jaakko A1 - Kardia, Sharon L R A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Lehrer, Steven F A1 - Magnusson, Patrik K E A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - McGue, Matt A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Pendleton, Neil A1 - Penninx, Brenda W J H A1 - Perola, Markus A1 - Pirastu, Nicola A1 - Pirastu, Mario A1 - Polasek, Ozren A1 - Posthuma, Danielle A1 - Power, Christine A1 - Province, Michael A A1 - Samani, Nilesh J A1 - Schlessinger, David A1 - Schmidt, Reinhold A1 - Sørensen, Thorkild I A A1 - Spector, Tim D A1 - Stefansson, Kari A1 - Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur A1 - Thurik, A Roy A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Tiemeier, Henning A1 - Tung, Joyce Y A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Vitart, Veronique A1 - Vollenweider, Peter A1 - Weir, David R A1 - Wilson, James F A1 - Wright, Alan F A1 - Conley, Dalton C A1 - Krueger, Robert F A1 - Davey Smith, George A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Laibson, David I A1 - Medland, Sarah E A1 - Meyer, Michelle N A1 - Yang, Jian A1 - Johannesson, Magnus A1 - Visscher, Peter M A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Koellinger, Philipp D A1 - Cesarini, David A1 - Benjamin, Daniel J KW - Alzheimer Disease KW - Bipolar Disorder KW - Brain KW - Cognition KW - Computational Biology KW - Educational Status KW - Fetus KW - Gene Expression Regulation KW - Gene-Environment Interaction KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Great Britain KW - Humans KW - Molecular Sequence Annotation KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Schizophrenia AB -

Educational attainment is strongly influenced by social and other environmental factors, but genetic factors are estimated to account for at least 20% of the variation across individuals. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for educational attainment that extends our earlier discovery sample of 101,069 individuals to 293,723 individuals, and a replication study in an independent sample of 111,349 individuals from the UK Biobank. We identify 74 genome-wide significant loci associated with the number of years of schooling completed. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with educational attainment are disproportionately found in genomic regions regulating gene expression in the fetal brain. Candidate genes are preferentially expressed in neural tissue, especially during the prenatal period, and enriched for biological pathways involved in neural development. Our findings demonstrate that, even for a behavioural phenotype that is mostly environmentally determined, a well-powered GWAS identifies replicable associated genetic variants that suggest biologically relevant pathways. Because educational attainment is measured in large numbers of individuals, it will continue to be useful as a proxy phenotype in efforts to characterize the genetic influences of related phenotypes, including cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases.

VL - 533 IS - 7604 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225129?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Directional dominance on stature and cognition in diverse human populations. JF - Nature Y1 - 2015 A1 - Joshi, Peter K A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Mattsson, Hannele A1 - Eklund, Niina A1 - Gandin, Ilaria A1 - Nutile, Teresa A1 - Jackson, Anne U A1 - Schurmann, Claudia A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Zhang, Weihua A1 - Okada, Yukinori A1 - Stančáková, Alena A1 - Faul, Jessica D A1 - Zhao, Wei A1 - Bartz, Traci M A1 - Concas, Maria Pina A1 - Franceschini, Nora A1 - Enroth, Stefan A1 - Vitart, Veronique A1 - Trompet, Stella A1 - Guo, Xiuqing A1 - Chasman, Daniel I A1 - O'Connel, Jeffrey R A1 - Corre, Tanguy A1 - Nongmaithem, Suraj S A1 - Chen, Yuning A1 - Mangino, Massimo A1 - Ruggiero, Daniela A1 - Traglia, Michela A1 - Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni A1 - Kacprowski, Tim A1 - Bjonnes, Andrew A1 - van der Spek, Ashley A1 - Wu, Ying A1 - Giri, Anil K A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Wang, Lihua A1 - Hofer, Edith A1 - Rietveld, Cornelius A A1 - McLeod, Olga A1 - Cornelis, Marilyn C A1 - Pattaro, Cristian A1 - Verweij, Niek A1 - Baumbach, Clemens A1 - Abdellaoui, Abdel A1 - Warren, Helen R A1 - Vuckovic, Dragana A1 - Mei, Hao A1 - Bouchard, Claude A1 - Perry, John R B A1 - Cappellani, Stefania A1 - Mirza, Saira S A1 - Benton, Miles C A1 - Broeckel, Ulrich A1 - Medland, Sarah E A1 - Lind, Penelope A A1 - Malerba, Giovanni A1 - Drong, Alexander A1 - Yengo, Loic A1 - Bielak, Lawrence F A1 - Zhi, Degui A1 - van der Most, Peter J A1 - Shriner, Daniel A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Hemani, Gibran A1 - Karaderi, Tugce A1 - Wang, Zhaoming A1 - Liu, Tian A1 - Demuth, Ilja A1 - Zhao, Jing Hua A1 - Meng, Weihua A1 - Lataniotis, Lazaros A1 - van der Laan, Sander W A1 - Bradfield, Jonathan P A1 - Wood, Andrew R A1 - Bonnefond, Amelie A1 - Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S A1 - Hall, Leanne M A1 - Salvi, Erika A1 - Yazar, Seyhan A1 - Carstensen, Lisbeth A1 - de Haan, Hugoline G A1 - Abney, Mark A1 - Afzal, Uzma A1 - Allison, Matthew A A1 - Amin, Najaf A1 - Asselbergs, Folkert W A1 - Bakker, Stephan J L A1 - Barr, R Graham A1 - Baumeister, Sebastian E A1 - Benjamin, Daniel J A1 - Bergmann, Sven A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Bottinger, Erwin P A1 - Campbell, Archie A1 - Chakravarti, Aravinda A1 - Chan, Yingleong A1 - Chanock, Stephen J A1 - Chen, Constance A1 - Chen, Y-D Ida A1 - Collins, Francis S A1 - Connell, John A1 - Correa, Adolfo A1 - Cupples, L Adrienne A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Davies, Gail A1 - Dörr, Marcus A1 - Ehret, Georg A1 - Ellis, Stephen B A1 - Feenstra, Bjarke A1 - Feitosa, Mary F A1 - Ford, Ian A1 - Fox, Caroline S A1 - Frayling, Timothy M A1 - Friedrich, Nele A1 - Geller, Frank A1 - Scotland, Generation A1 - Gillham-Nasenya, Irina A1 - Gottesman, Omri A1 - Graff, Misa A1 - Grodstein, Francine A1 - Gu, Charles A1 - Haley, Chris A1 - Hammond, Christopher J A1 - Harris, Sarah E A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Hastie, Nicholas D A1 - Heard-Costa, Nancy L A1 - Heikkilä, Kauko A1 - Hocking, Lynne J A1 - Homuth, Georg A1 - Hottenga, Jouke-Jan A1 - Huang, Jinyan A1 - Huffman, Jennifer E A1 - Hysi, Pirro G A1 - Ikram, M Arfan A1 - Ingelsson, Erik A1 - Joensuu, Anni A1 - Johansson, Åsa A1 - Jousilahti, Pekka A1 - Jukema, J Wouter A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Kamatani, Yoichiro A1 - Kanoni, Stavroula A1 - Kerr, Shona M A1 - Khan, Nazir M A1 - Koellinger, Philipp A1 - Koistinen, Heikki A A1 - Kooner, Manraj K A1 - Kubo, Michiaki A1 - Kuusisto, Johanna A1 - Lahti, Jari A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Lea, Rodney A A1 - Lehne, Benjamin A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Lind, Lars A1 - Loh, Marie A1 - Lokki, Marja-Liisa A1 - London, Stephanie J A1 - Loomis, Stephanie J A1 - Loukola, Anu A1 - Lu, Yingchang A1 - Lumley, Thomas A1 - Lundqvist, Annamari A1 - Männistö, Satu A1 - Marques-Vidal, Pedro A1 - Masciullo, Corrado A1 - Matchan, Angela A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Matsuda, Koichi A1 - Meigs, James B A1 - Meisinger, Christa A1 - Meitinger, Thomas A1 - Menni, Cristina A1 - Mentch, Frank D A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Montasser, May E A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Morrison, Alanna A1 - Myers, Richard H A1 - Nadukuru, Rajiv A1 - Navarro, Pau A1 - Nelis, Mari A1 - Nieminen, Markku S A1 - Nolte, Ilja M A1 - O'Connor, George T A1 - Ogunniyi, Adesola A1 - Padmanabhan, Sandosh A1 - Palmas, Walter R A1 - Pankow, James S A1 - Patarcic, Inga A1 - Pavani, Francesca A1 - Peyser, Patricia A A1 - Pietilainen, Kirsi A1 - Poulter, Neil A1 - Prokopenko, Inga A1 - Ralhan, Sarju A1 - Redmond, Paul A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Rissanen, Harri A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Rose, Lynda M A1 - Rose, Richard A1 - Sala, Cinzia A1 - Salako, Babatunde A1 - Salomaa, Veikko A1 - Sarin, Antti-Pekka A1 - Saxena, Richa A1 - Schmidt, Helena A1 - Scott, Laura J A1 - Scott, William R A1 - Sennblad, Bengt A1 - Seshadri, Sudha A1 - Sever, Peter A1 - Shrestha, Smeeta A1 - Smith, Blair H A1 - Smith, Jennifer A A1 - Soranzo, Nicole A1 - Sotoodehnia, Nona A1 - Southam, Lorraine A1 - Stanton, Alice V A1 - Stathopoulou, Maria G A1 - Strauch, Konstantin A1 - Strawbridge, Rona J A1 - Suderman, Matthew J A1 - Tandon, Nikhil A1 - Tang, Sian-Tsun A1 - Taylor, Kent D A1 - Tayo, Bamidele O A1 - Töglhofer, Anna Maria A1 - Tomaszewski, Maciej A1 - Tšernikova, Natalia A1 - Tuomilehto, Jaakko A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Vaidya, Dhananjay A1 - van Hylckama Vlieg, Astrid A1 - van Setten, Jessica A1 - Vasankari, Tuula A1 - Vedantam, Sailaja A1 - Vlachopoulou, Efthymia A1 - Vozzi, Diego A1 - Vuoksimaa, Eero A1 - Waldenberger, Melanie A1 - Ware, Erin B A1 - Wentworth-Shields, William A1 - Whitfield, John B A1 - Wild, Sarah A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Yajnik, Chittaranjan S A1 - Yao, Jie A1 - Zaza, Gianluigi A1 - Zhu, Xiaofeng A1 - Salem, Rany M A1 - Melbye, Mads A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Samani, Nilesh J A1 - Cusi, Daniele A1 - Mackey, David A A1 - Cooper, Richard S A1 - Froguel, Philippe A1 - Pasterkamp, Gerard A1 - Grant, Struan F A A1 - Hakonarson, Hakon A1 - Ferrucci, Luigi A1 - Scott, Robert A A1 - Morris, Andrew D A1 - Palmer, Colin N A A1 - Dedoussis, George A1 - Deloukas, Panos A1 - Bertram, Lars A1 - Lindenberger, Ulman A1 - Berndt, Sonja I A1 - Lindgren, Cecilia M A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Tönjes, Anke A1 - Munroe, Patricia B A1 - Sørensen, Thorkild I A A1 - Rotimi, Charles N A1 - Arnett, Donna K A1 - Oldehinkel, Albertine J A1 - Kardia, Sharon L R A1 - Balkau, Beverley A1 - Gambaro, Giovanni A1 - Morris, Andrew P A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Wright, Margie J A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - Hunt, Steven C A1 - Starr, John M A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Griffiths, Lyn R A1 - Tiemeier, Henning A1 - Pirastu, Nicola A1 - Kaprio, Jaakko A1 - Wareham, Nicholas J A1 - Pérusse, Louis A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Girotto, Giorgia A1 - Caulfield, Mark J A1 - Raitakari, Olli A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Gieger, Christian A1 - van der Harst, Pim A1 - Hicks, Andrew A A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Sinisalo, Juha A1 - Knekt, Paul A1 - Johannesson, Magnus A1 - Magnusson, Patrik K E A1 - Hamsten, Anders A1 - Schmidt, Reinhold A1 - Borecki, Ingrid B A1 - Vartiainen, Erkki A1 - Becker, Diane M A1 - Bharadwaj, Dwaipayan A1 - Mohlke, Karen L A1 - Boehnke, Michael A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Sanghera, Dharambir K A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Ober, Carole A1 - Toniolo, Daniela A1 - Rudan, Igor A1 - Porteous, David J A1 - Ciullo, Marina A1 - Spector, Tim D A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Dupuis, Josée A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - Wright, Alan F A1 - Chandak, Giriraj R A1 - Vollenweider, Peter A1 - Shuldiner, Alan R A1 - Ridker, Paul M A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Sattar, Naveed A1 - Gyllensten, Ulf A1 - North, Kari E A1 - Pirastu, Mario A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Weir, David R A1 - Laakso, Markku A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Takahashi, Atsushi A1 - Chambers, John C A1 - Kooner, Jaspal S A1 - Strachan, David P A1 - Campbell, Harry A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N A1 - Perola, Markus A1 - Polasek, Ozren A1 - Wilson, James F KW - Biological Evolution KW - Blood Pressure KW - Body Height KW - Cholesterol, LDL KW - Cognition KW - Cohort Studies KW - Educational Status KW - Female KW - Forced Expiratory Volume KW - Genome, Human KW - Homozygote KW - Humans KW - Lung Volume Measurements KW - Male KW - Phenotype AB -

Homozygosity has long been associated with rare, often devastating, Mendelian disorders, and Darwin was one of the first to recognize that inbreeding reduces evolutionary fitness. However, the effect of the more distant parental relatedness that is common in modern human populations is less well understood. Genomic data now allow us to investigate the effects of homozygosity on traits of public health importance by observing contiguous homozygous segments (runs of homozygosity), which are inferred to be homozygous along their complete length. Given the low levels of genome-wide homozygosity prevalent in most human populations, information is required on very large numbers of people to provide sufficient power. Here we use runs of homozygosity to study 16 health-related quantitative traits in 354,224 individuals from 102 cohorts, and find statistically significant associations between summed runs of homozygosity and four complex traits: height, forced expiratory lung volume in one second, general cognitive ability and educational attainment (P < 1 × 10(-300), 2.1 × 10(-6), 2.5 × 10(-10) and 1.8 × 10(-10), respectively). In each case, increased homozygosity was associated with decreased trait value, equivalent to the offspring of first cousins being 1.2 cm shorter and having 10 months' less education. Similar effect sizes were found across four continental groups and populations with different degrees of genome-wide homozygosity, providing evidence that homozygosity, rather than confounding, directly contributes to phenotypic variance. Contrary to earlier reports in substantially smaller samples, no evidence was seen of an influence of genome-wide homozygosity on blood pressure and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, or ten other cardio-metabolic traits. Since directional dominance is predicted for traits under directional evolutionary selection, this study provides evidence that increased stature and cognitive function have been positively selected in human evolution, whereas many important risk factors for late-onset complex diseases may not have been.

VL - 523 IS - 7561 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26131930?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Evidence of inbreeding depression on human height. JF - PLoS Genet Y1 - 2012 A1 - McQuillan, Ruth A1 - Eklund, Niina A1 - Pirastu, Nicola A1 - Kuningas, Maris A1 - McEvoy, Brian P A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Corre, Tanguy A1 - Davies, Gail A1 - Kaakinen, Marika A1 - Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Kristiansson, Kati A1 - Havulinna, Aki S A1 - Gögele, Martin A1 - Vitart, Veronique A1 - Tenesa, Albert A1 - Aulchenko, Yurii A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Johansson, Åsa A1 - Boban, Mladen A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Boraska, Vesna A1 - Igl, Wilmar A1 - Wild, Sarah H A1 - Zgaga, Lina A1 - Amin, Najaf A1 - Theodoratou, Evropi A1 - Polasek, Ozren A1 - Girotto, Giorgia A1 - Lopez, Lorna M A1 - Sala, Cinzia A1 - Lahti, Jari A1 - Laatikainen, Tiina A1 - Prokopenko, Inga A1 - Kals, Mart A1 - Viikari, Jorma A1 - Yang, Jian A1 - Pouta, Anneli A1 - Estrada, Karol A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Freimer, Nelson A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Heliövaara, Markku A1 - Vartiainen, Erkki A1 - Räikkönen, Katri A1 - Masciullo, Corrado A1 - Starr, John M A1 - Hicks, Andrew A A1 - Esposito, Laura A1 - Kolcic, Ivana A1 - Farrington, Susan M A1 - Oostra, Ben A1 - Zemunik, Tatijana A1 - Campbell, Harry A1 - Kirin, Mirna A1 - Pehlic, Marina A1 - Faletra, Flavio A1 - Porteous, David A1 - Pistis, Giorgio A1 - Widen, Elisabeth A1 - Salomaa, Veikko A1 - Koskinen, Seppo A1 - Fischer, Krista A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Heath, Andrew A1 - McCarthy, Mark I A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Tiemeier, Henning A1 - Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa A1 - Madden, Pamela A F A1 - d'Adamo, Pio A1 - Hastie, Nicholas D A1 - Gyllensten, Ulf A1 - Wright, Alan F A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Dunlop, Malcolm A1 - Rudan, Igor A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Pramstaller, Peter P A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Toniolo, Daniela A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Jula, Antti A1 - Raitakari, Olli T A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Perola, Markus A1 - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Uitterlinden, André A1 - Visscher, Peter M A1 - Wilson, James F KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Body Height KW - Consanguinity KW - Databases, Genetic KW - Family KW - Female KW - Genes, Recessive KW - Genetic Heterogeneity KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Homozygote KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Quantitative Trait, Heritable AB -

Stature is a classical and highly heritable complex trait, with 80%-90% of variation explained by genetic factors. In recent years, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified many common additive variants influencing human height; however, little attention has been given to the potential role of recessive genetic effects. Here, we investigated genome-wide recessive effects by an analysis of inbreeding depression on adult height in over 35,000 people from 21 different population samples. We found a highly significant inverse association between height and genome-wide homozygosity, equivalent to a height reduction of up to 3 cm in the offspring of first cousins compared with the offspring of unrelated individuals, an effect which remained after controlling for the effects of socio-economic status, an important confounder (χ(2) = 83.89, df = 1; p = 5.2 × 10(-20)). There was, however, a high degree of heterogeneity among populations: whereas the direction of the effect was consistent across most population samples, the effect size differed significantly among populations. It is likely that this reflects true biological heterogeneity: whether or not an effect can be observed will depend on both the variance in homozygosity in the population and the chance inheritance of individual recessive genotypes. These results predict that multiple, rare, recessive variants influence human height. Although this exploratory work focuses on height alone, the methodology developed is generally applicable to heritable quantitative traits (QT), paving the way for an investigation into inbreeding effects, and therefore genetic architecture, on a range of QT of biomedical importance.

VL - 8 IS - 7 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22829771?dopt=Abstract ER -