Omics Data

Omics is the large-scale study of molecules – including DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites – to understand the function of cells and biological systems. Add Health collects a variety of omics data and makes them available both in full scale through dbGaP, and as constructed variables disseminated through restricted-use contracts. A notable feature of the Add Health omics data is the availability of multi-omics data (SNP, RNA-seq, and DNA methylation) on a subsample of Wave V participants.

This page provides tools and resources to enable Add Health users to integrate these unprecedented data into their research. Documents specific to genomic data are available on the Data Documentation page, under the Genetic category.

Genetic data

Genetic data available include candidate gene measures from Wave IV, as well as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data from Waves IV and V, all measured in saliva. Add Health also constructs and releases summary measures such as polygenic indices derived from the SNP data through restricted-use contracts.

Transcriptomic data

RNA-seq data were measured at Wave V from venous blood collected in PAXgene tubes. The data include 4,543 Wave V biomarker subsample participants who gave blood during the home exam.

Epigenetic data

DNA methylation was measured at Wave V on the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC v1.0 array, which quantifies methylation at over 850,000 sites. The data include 4,626 Wave V biomarker subsample participants who gave venous blood during the home exam. Add Health also constructs and releases epigenetic clock measures of biological aging derived from these data through restricted-use contracts.

Omics data on dbGaP

Genome-wide SNP data, RNA-seq gene expression, and DNA methylation data are available on dbGaP. In order to access these data, users should apply through dbGaP.

The data on dbGaP include limited phenotype data. In order to link the full scale omics data back to the Add Health phenotype data, users must have a restricted-use Home Institution contract, dbGaP approval, and apply for a linkage file.

The documents listed below provide broader methodological and quality control information for Add Health genomic data available at dbGaP.

Omics data available through restricted-use


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