The Missing Diversity in Human Genetic Studies
Open accessAbstract
The majority of studies of genetic association with disease have been performed in Europeans. This European bias has important implications for risk prediction of diseases across global populations. In this commentary, we justify the need to study more diverse populations using both empirical examples and theoretical reasoning.
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The results generated are strongly affected by the well-known overrepresentation of EUR populations in human genetic research.
“Although our study provides novel insights into the role of human evolutionary history in the genetics of traits and diseases in worldwide populations, we acknowledge that the results generated are strongly affected by the well-known overrepresentation of EUR populations in human genetic research [49].”
From Denisovan and Neanderthal archaic introgression differentially impacted the genetics of complex traits in modern populations (2022) · cites this paper as [49]
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- Authors
- Sirugo, G., Williams, S. M., & Tishkoff, S. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sirugo, Giorgio
- Williams, Scott M.
- Tishkoff, Sarah A.
- Venue
- Cell
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-03
- Volume
- 177
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 26-31
- ISSN
- 0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7380073
- OpenAlex
- W2922534626
- Cited by
- 1,516
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 222 · 2025: 217 · 2024: 217 · 2023: 248 · 2022: 248 · 2021: 198 · 2020: 121 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 91.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2019-05-02)
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- NIH (1R01DK104339, 1R01GM113657)
- American Diabetes Association (1-19-VSN-02, .)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Race, Genetics, and Society
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Keywords
- genetic diversity, genetic association studies, underrepresented groups, disease risk prediction, population stratification, genetic ancestry
- MeSH terms
- Human Genetics, Genetic Techniques, Genetics, Humans, Risk Factors, Genetic Variation, Selection Bias, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Racial Groups, Genetic Association Studies
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