Estimating genetic nurture with summary statistics of multi-generational genome-wide association studies

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.06.328724
• Publication Date: 2020-10-08T19:00:18Z
• Authors: Yuchang Wu; Xiaoyuan Zhong; Yunong Lin; Zijie Zhao; Jiawen Chen; Boyan Zheng; James J. Li; Jason M. Fletcher; Qiongshi Lu
• Keywords: Genome-wide Association Study; Nature versus nurture; Genetic Association; Genetic correlation; Proband

Abstract Marginal effect estimates in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are mixtures of direct and indirect genetic effects. Existing methods to dissect these effects require family-based, individual-level phenotypic data with large samples, which is difficult obtain practice. Here, we propose a novel statistical framework estimate using summary statistics from GWAS conducted on own offspring phenotypes. Applied birth weight, our method showed nearly identical results those obtained data. We also decomposed educational attainment (EA), distinct patterns correlations 45 complex traits. The known between EA higher height, lower BMI, less active smoking behavior, better health outcomes were mostly explained by the component EA. In contrast, consistently identified correlation autism spectrum disorder (ASD) resides component. Polygenic transmission disequilibrium test significant over-transmission healthy parents ASD probands. Taken together, demonstrate that traditional approaches, conjunction collection existing cohorts, could greatly benefit nurture shed important light interpretation associations for human