A population genetic interpretation of GWAS findings for human quantitative traits

Guy SELLA
Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, USA gs2747@columbia.edu 

(Seminar in English)

One of the central goals of evolutionary genetics is to understand the processes that give rise to phenotypic variation in humans and other taxa. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in humans provide an unprecedented opportunity in that regard, revealing the genetic basis of variation in numerous traits. However, exploiting this opportunity requires models that relate genetic and population genetic processes with the discoveries emerging from GWASs. We present such a model and show that it can help explain the results of GWASs for height and body mass index. More generally, our results offer a simple interpretation of the findings emerging from GWASs and suggest how they relate to the evolutionary and genetic forces that give rise to phenotypic variation.

Related publications:

Simons YB, Bullaughey K, Hudson RR, Sella G (2018) A population genetic interpretation of GWAS findings for human quantitative traits. PLoS Biol 16(3): e2002985

Sella G, Barton NH (2017). Selection on quantitative traits. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics 18:1

De septembre 2018 à juin 2019, les SEEM auront lieu à l’Université de Montpellier, bâtiment 23 (en face de l’ISEM), salle SC01 – voir flèche rouge sur le plan en pièce jointe.

From September 2018 to June 2019,  the SEEMs will take place at the University of Montpellier, building 23 (opposite ISEM), room SC01 – see red arrow in the attached map.