Cited by 1,073Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyGenomics and Rare DiseasesGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals

Human genetic variation and its contribution to complex traits

Frazer, Kelly A., Murray, Sarah S., Schork, Nicholas J., Topol, Eric J.·2009·Nature Reviews Genetics

Abstract

The last few years have seen extensive efforts to catalogue human genetic variation and correlate it with phenotypic differences. Most common SNPs have now been assessed in genome-wide studies for statistical associations with many complex traits, including many important common diseases. Although these studies have provided new biological insights, only a limited amount of the heritable component of any complex trait has been identified and it remains a challenge to elucidate the functional link between associated variants and phenotypic traits. Technological advances, such as the ability to detect rare and structural variants, and a clear understanding of the challenges in linking different types of variation with phenotype, will be essential for future progress.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrg2554

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  • Many genetic and epigenetic factors, including multiple rare single nucleotide variants, copy number variations, and other structural variation, likely contribute to common complex diseases.

    “It is now widely believed that many genetic and epigenetic factors are likely to contribute to common complex diseases, including multiple rare SNVs (defined by convention as those that have frequencies < 1%), copy number variations (CNVs), and other forms of structural variation. 3–12”
  • Rare variants likely influence phenotypic expression together with common variants or beyond the effects of common variants.

    “Irrespective of how one might define ‘rare variant’ (which, although we have adopted the convention <1% frequency, might range from <0.1% to <0.01% depending on the context13) it is essential to recognize that such variants likely contribute to phenotypic expression in conjunction with, or over-and-above, common variants.”

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Authors
Frazer, K. A., Murray, S. S., Schork, N. J., & Topol, E. J.
Affiliations
Scripps Research Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Frazer, Kelly A.
Venue
Nature Reviews Genetics
Published
2009-04
Volume
10
Issue
4
Pages
241-251
ISSN
  • 1471-0056 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0064
OpenAlex
W2046247026
Cited by
1,073
References
138
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 80 · 2014: 74 · 2013: 80 · 2012: 104
FWCI
12.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Center for Research Resources (1U54RR025204-01, UL1RR025774)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genomics and Rare Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
Keywords
human genetic variation, complex traits, single nucleotide polymorphisms, rare variants, copy number variation, structural variants, heritability, genetic association studies, disease genetics
MeSH terms
Base Sequence, Genotype, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Phenotype, Genetic Variation, Linkage Disequilibrium, Genome, Human, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Genome-Wide Association Study

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