Polygenic prediction of educational attainment within and between families from genome-wide association analyses in 3 million individuals

We conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of educational attainment (EA) in a sample of ~3 million individuals and identify 3,952 approximately uncorrelated genome-wide-significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A genome-wide polygenic predictor, or polygenic index (PGI), explains 12-16% of EA variance and contributes to risk prediction for ten diseases. Direct effects (i.e., controlling for parental PGIs) explain roughly half the PGI's magnitude of association with EA and other phenotypes. The correlation between mate-pair PGIs is far too large to be consistent with phenotypic assortment alone, implying additional assortment on PGI-associated factors. In an additional GWAS of dominance deviations from the additive model, we identify no genome-wide-significant SNPs, and a separate X-chromosome additive GWAS identifies 57

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Partial polymerase gene sequence, phylogeny and RT-PCR diagnostic assay for Datura yellow vein nucleorhabdovirus

Partial (c. 0.25 and 1.1 kb) nucleotide sequences of the L polymerase gene of Datura yellow vein virus (DYVV) were obtained using two sets of degenerate oligonucleotide primers. This is the first sequence information for this virus. Phylogenetic analysis of the conserved L gene sequence with those of other plant rhabdoviruses showed that DYVV is most closely related to Sonchus yellow net virus and confirmed its taxonomic placement in the genus Nucleorhabdovirus. DYVV strains isolated from Datura stramonium and Thungergia alata, respectively, were 97.2 % identical in nucleotide sequence across a 251 nt region of the L gene. DYVV-specific primers were designed and a diagnostic RT-PCR assay developed and validated