Genetic architecture of four smoking behaviors using partitioned SNP heritability

• DOI: 10.1111/add.15450
• Publication Date: 2021-02-23T14:16:48Z
• Authors: Luke M. Evans; Seonkyeong Jang; Dana B. Hancock; Marissa A. Ehringer; Jacqueline M. Otto; Scott I. Vrieze; Matthew C. Keller
• Keywords: SNP; Genetic architecture; Genome-wide Association Study; Trait; Genetic Association

Abstract Background and Aims Although genome‐wide association studies have identified many loci that influence smoking behaviors, much of the genetic variance remains unexplained. We characterized architecture four behaviors using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) heritability ( h 2 SNP ). This is an estimate narrow‐sense specifically estimating proportion phenotypic variation due to causal variants (CVs) tagged by SNPs. Design Partitioned analysis behavior traits. Setting UK Biobank. Participants Biobank participants European ancestry. The number varied depending on trait, from 54 792 323 068. Measurements Smoking initiation, age cigarettes per day (CPD; count, log‐transformed, binned dichotomized into heavy versus light) cessation with imputed Findings estimated that, in aggregate, approximately 18% initiation was captured SNPs [ = 0.18, standard error (SE) 0.01] 12% [SE 0.02] for cessation, both which were more than twice previously reported estimates. Estimated 0.05, SE 0.01) CPD 0.1, substantially below published twin‐based 50%. encoding influenced estimates, 0.28. There no evidence dominance any trait. Conclusion A biobank study traits suggested explained modest overall.