Finding the missing heritability of complex diseases

Teri A. Manolio, Francis S. Collins, Nancy J. Cox, David B. Goldstein, Lucia A. Hindorff, David J. Hunter, Mark I. McCarthy, Erin M. Ramos, Lon R. Cardon, Aravinda Chakravarti, Judy H. Cho, Alan E. Guttmacher, Augustine Kong, Leonid Kruglyak, Elaine Mardis, Charles N. Rotimi, Montgomery Slatkin, David Valle, Alice S. Whittemore, Michael BoehnkeAndrew G. Clark, Evan E. Eichler, Greg Gibson, Jonathan L. Haines, Trudy F.C. MacKay, Steven A. McCarroll, Peter M. Visscher

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5277 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with complex human diseases and traits, and have provided valuable insights into their genetic architecture. Most variants identified so far confer relatively small increments in risk, and explain only a small proportion of familial clustering, leading many to question how the remaining, missing heritability can be explained. Here we examine potential sources of missing heritability and propose research strategies, including and extending beyond current genome-wide association approaches, to illuminate the genetics of complex diseases and enhance its potential to enable effective disease prevention or treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)747-753
Number of pages7
JournalNature
Volume461
Issue number7265
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 8 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Finding the missing heritability of complex diseases'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this