1,607 research outputs found
Exploring the inheritance of complex traits in humans
I explore the genetic and environmental basis of inheritance using modern techniques, in particular high-density genotyping arrays, and older techniques, in particular family history, to explore some longstanding questions about the way we inherit complex traits. Using pedigree data and the parent-offspring regression technique, I estimate narrow sense heritability (h2) of human lifespan in 20th Century Scotland as 0.16, lower than commonly cited studies in other populations. I also observe similar concordance between spouses as between parents and offspring - suggesting my estimate of heritability may include significant within-family environment effects and thus should be considered an upper bound. Using genome-wide array data to identify runs of homozygosity, from 150 cohorts across the world and up to 350,000 subjects per trait, I show that cognitive function and body size are associated with the total length of genome-wide runs of homozygosity. Contrary to earlier reports in substantially smaller samples, no evidence was seen of an influence of homozygosity on blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or ten other cardio-metabolic traits. An association between genome-wide homozygosity and complex traits arises due to directional dominance. Since directional dominance is predicted for traits under directional evolutionary selection, this study provides evidence that increased stature and cognitive function have been positively selected in human evolution, whereas many important risk factors for late-onset complex diseases have not. The analysis of less common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants in genome-wide association studies promises to elucidate complex trait genetics but is hampered by low power to reliably detect association, whilst avoiding false positives. I show that addition of 100 population-specific exome sequences to 1,000 genomes global reference data allows more accurate imputation, particularly of less common SNPs (minor allele frequency 1–10%). The imputation improvement corresponds to an increase in effective sample size of 28–38%, for SNPs with a minor allele frequency in the range 1–3%. Inheritance of complex traits remains a field wide open for discovery, both in determining the balance between nature and nurture and discovery of the specific mechanisms by which DNA causes variation in these traits, with the prospect of such discoveries illuminating biological pathways involved and, as knowledge deepens, facilitating prediction
Genome-wide association analyses of physical activity and sedentary behavior provide insights into underlying mechanisms and roles in disease prevention
A quantum electromechanical interface for long-lived phonons
Controlling long-lived mechanical oscillators in the quantum regime holds
promises for quantum information processing. Here, we present an
electromechanical system capable of operating in the GHz-frequency band in a
silicon-on-insulator platform. Relying on a novel driving scheme based on an
electrostatic field and high-impedance microwave cavities based on TiN
superinductors, we are able to demonstrate a parametrically-enhanced
electromechanical coupling of MHz, sufficient to enter the
strong-coupling regime with a cooperativity of . The
absence of piezoelectric materials in our platform leads to long mechanical
lifetimes, finding intrinsic values up to s ( at GHz) measured at low-phonon
numbers and millikelvin temperatures. Despite the strong parametric drives, we
find the cavity-mechanics system in the quantum ground state by performing
sideband thermometry measurements. Simultaneously achieving ground-state
operation, long mechanical lifetimes, and strong coupling sets the stage for
employing silicon electromechanical resonators as memory elements and
transducers in hybrid quantum systems, and as a tool for probing the origins of
acoustic loss in the quantum regime
Genome-wide meta-analysis associates HLA-DQA1/DRB1 and LPA and lifestyle factors with human longevity
Genomic analysis of longevity offers the potential to illuminate the biology
of human aging. Here, using genome-wide association meta-analysis of 606,059
parents’ survival, we discover two regions associated with longevity (HLA-
DQA1/DRB1 and LPA). We also validate previous suggestions that APOE, CHRNA3/5,
CDKN2A/B, SH2B3 and FOXO3A influence longevity. Next we show that giving up
smoking, educational attainment, openness to new experience and high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are most positively genetically
correlated with lifespan while susceptibility to coronary artery disease
(CAD), cigarettes smoked per day, lung cancer, insulin resistance and body fat
are most negatively correlated. We suggest that the effect of education on
lifespan is principally mediated through smoking while the effect of obesity
appears to act via CAD. Using instrumental variables, we suggest that an
increase of one body mass index unit reduces lifespan by 7 months while 1 year
of education adds 11 months to expected lifespan
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