Genome-wide association studies have problems due to confounding: Are family-based designs the answer?
Alexander I. Young
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) can be affected by confounding. Family-based GWAS uses random, within-family genetic variation to avoid this. A study in PLOS Biology details how different sources of confounding affect GWAS and whether family-based designs offer a solution.
Topics & Concepts
Genome-wide association studyConfoundingBiologyGenetic associationGeneticsComputational biologyAssociation (psychology)Single-nucleotide polymorphismGenotypeGeneStatisticsMathematicsEpistemologyPhilosophyGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyGenetic and phenotypic traits in livestockAdvanced Causal Inference Techniques