Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
10:39
A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: September 17, 2020
Joint influence of small-effect genetic variants on human longevity
Anatoliy I Yashin1, Deqing Wu, Konstantin G Arbeev
1Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0408, USA. aiy@duke.edu
Aging
|September 14, 2010
Summary
Small-effect genetic variants collectively impact human longevity, challenging previous assumptions. Our study reveals these combined genetic factors significantly influence lifespan through a dose-response relationship.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Longevity research
- Complex trait analysis
Background:
- Complex traits like lifespan are influenced by numerous genes.
- Small-effect alleles identified in genome-wide association studies are often disregarded due to low individual predictive value.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cumulative effect of small-effect alleles on human longevity.
- To determine if jointly acting small-effect alleles can significantly influence lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of genome-wide association study data.
- Statistical modeling to assess the joint impact of multiple genetic variants.
- Development of a "genetic dose - phenotypic response" model.
Main Results:
- Alleles with individually small effects on longevity can collectively exert a substantial and significant influence.
- A discernible "genetic dose - phenotypic response" relationship was observed for these combined genetic factors.
- This cumulative genetic effect challenges the traditional exclusion of small-effect alleles in complex trait analyses.
Conclusions:
- The joint action of small-effect alleles plays a crucial role in determining human lifespan.
- A "genetic dose - phenotypic response" model effectively describes the cumulative impact of these alleles.
- Re-evaluation of small-effect alleles in genetic association studies is warranted for a comprehensive understanding of complex traits.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Polygenic Traits
When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
01:18Polygenic Traits
When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
01:27Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...
01:29Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Genetic variations significantly influence drug response through pharmacokinetics, receptor interactions, and biologic milieu modifications. Pharmacokinetic alterations impact drug metabolism and clearance, affecting efficacy and toxicity. Variants in drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, alter drug activation and elimination. For example, CYP2C9 loss-of-function variants require lower warfarin doses to prevent excessive bleeding, while CYP2C19 variants reduce clopidogrel...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:33Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...