Geographic clustering of polygenic scores at different stages of the life course

Citation

Domingue, Benjamin W.; Rehkopf, David H.; Conley, Dalton; & Boardman, Jason D. (2018). Geographic clustering of polygenic scores at different stages of the life course. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences. vol. 4 (4) pp. 137-149

Abstract

We interrogate state-level clustering of polygenic scores at different points in the life course and variation in the association of mean polygenic scores in a respondent’s state of birth with corresponding phenotypes. The polygenic scores for height and smoking show the most state-level clustering (2 to 4 percent) with relatively little clustering observed for the other scores. However, even the small amounts of observed clustering are potentially meaningful. The state-mean polygenic score for educational attainment is strongly associated with an individual’s educational attainment net of that person’s polygenic score. The ecological clustering of polygenic scores may denote a new environmental factor in gene-environment research. We conclude by discussing possible mechanisms that underlie this association and the implications of our findings for social and genetic research.

URL

https://doi.org/10.7758/RSF.2018.4.4.08

Keyword(s)

polygenic scores,genetics,geography

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences

Author(s)

Domingue, Benjamin W.
Rehkopf, David H.
Conley, Dalton
Boardman, Jason D.

Year Published

2018

Volume Number

4

Issue Number

4

Pages

137-149

Edition

April 4, 2018

DOI

10.7758/rsf.2018.4.4.08

Reference ID

8316