Cited by 5,355Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and AnimalsForensic and Genetic Research

The Future of Genetic Studies of Complex Human Diseases

Risch, Neil, Merikangas, Kathleen·1996·Science

Abstract

The identification of the genetic basis of complex human diseases such as schizophrenia and diabetes has proven difficult. In their Perspective, Risch and Merikangas propose that we can best accomplish this goal by combining the power of the human genome project with association studies, a method for determining the basis of a genetic disease.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.273.5281.1516

Cites

4 of 4 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Linkage analyses in extended multiple sclerosis affected families validated the HLA association but showed no significant linkage to loci outside the MHC.

    “These validated the HLA association but showed no significant linkage to loci outside the MHC.”

    From Genome‐wide association studies of multiple sclerosis (2018) · cites this paper as [27]

  • Recognition that association-based methods might have greater traction for identifying less penetrant common alleles redirected attention to analysis of case-control samples.

    “Recognition that association-based methods, focused on detecting phenotype-related differences in variant allele frequencies might have greater traction for identifying less penetrant common alleles redirected attention to analysis of case–control samples37.”

    From A brief history of human disease genetics (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

  • The historical division of disease-gene discovery into monogenic and polygenic strands arose from analytical approaches best suited for detecting particular subsets of causal alleles.

    “The historical division of disease-gene discovery into monogenic and polygenic strands arose from development and implementation of analytical approaches–family-based linkage and case–control association37–that are best-suited for detecting particular subsets of causal alleles.”

    From A brief history of human disease genetics (2020) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Linkage analysis is poorly powered for complex traits.

    “Linkage analysis is poorly powered for complex traits (Risch and Merikangas, 1996).”
  • Not all approaches to linkage analysis are very powerful, especially non-parametric approaches involving small families.

    “However, not all approaches to linkage analysis are very powerful, and this is especially true for non-parametric approaches involving small families69, 70, although transmission/disequilibrium tests may have merit in the analysis of rare variants.71”

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Authors
Risch, N., & Merikangas, K.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • Yale University (US)
Venue
Science
Published
1996-09-13
Volume
273
Issue
5281
Pages
1516-1517
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2042103448
Cited by
5,355
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 74 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 108 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 108 · 2016: 116 · 2015: 114 · 2014: 149 · 2013: 162 · 2012: 190
FWCI
92.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
Keywords
complex diseases, genetic susceptibility, schizophrenia, diabetes mellitus, genome-wide association study, Human Genome Project, genetic basis of disease
MeSH terms
Alleles, Genetic Techniques, Genotype, Heterozygote, Humans, Genetic Linkage, Polymorphism, Genetic, Probability, Genome, Human, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Diseases, Inborn

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