Contrast Mendelian & Complex traits
Mendelian Vs. Complex Traits
- Mendelian:
Single gene (monogenic)
High penetrance
Predictable inheritance
Simple relationship
Genotype & phenotype
Eg. Cystic fibrosis
- Complex:
(Multifactoral / quantitative)
Multiple genes (polygenic)
Low penetrance
Familial clustering
Unpredictable inheritance
Complex relationship
Genotype & phenotype
Strongly influenced by environment (Multifactoral)
Prevalence -> ~600/1000
Eg. Alzheimers, Autism, Crohn’s, Athsma, Cleft lip, Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Neural Tube defects / spina bifidaDescribe Mendelian traits
- Mendelian:
Single gene (monogenic)
High penetrance
Predictable inheritance
Simple relationship
Genotype & phenotype
Eg. Cystic fibrosisDescribe complex traits
- Complex: (Multifactoral / quantitative) Multiple genes (polygenic) Low penetrance Familial clustering Unpredictable inheritance Complex relationship Genotype & phenotype Strongly influenced by environment (Multifactoral) Prevalence -> ~600/1000 Eg. Alzheimers, Autism, Crohn’s, Athsma, Cleft lip, Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Neural Tube defects / spina bifida
Give an example illustrating genetic & environmental influences on complex traits
• Genetic & Environmental Influences -> Complex Traits:
Eg. Type 2 Diabtetes
~ 6-8% population
Genetic: One affected parent -> 15%
Both parents affected -> 75%
Environment: BMI >30 -> 20%
Describe analysis of quantitative, complex traits
- Quantitative Traits:
>Quantitative / continuous traits
Complex traits
Eg. Height, Blood Pressure, Serum, Cholesterol, BMI, Crop yield
Mean:
Arithmetic Average (Centre of Distribution)
Variance:
Spread of values around mean.What are quantitative traits?
>Quantitative / continuous traits
Give an example of quantitative complex traits?
Eg. Height, Blood Pressure, Serum, Cholesterol, BMI, Crop yield
What is the mean?
Mean:
Arithmetic Average (Centre of Distribution)
What is the variance?
Variance:
Spread of values around mean.
What kind of graph / chart can be used to analyse quantitative, complex traits?
Normal distribution curve
Describe analysis of discontinuous, complex traits
What are discontinuous traits?
What is used to analyse discontinuous, complex traits & describe how?
Threshold Model:
Underlying continuous liability (genetic & environmental factors)
» Threshold above which disease / trait is present
Families with incr. risk of trait / disease
» Distribution of liability shifted towards threshold.
What is used to analyse discontinuous, complex traits?
Threshold model
Describe the way in which discontinuous & continuous traits are analysed
Same underlying aetiology.
What is the polygene hypothesis?
Genetic basis of complex traits
How is the polygene hypothesis measured?
Proportion of phenotypic variation in quantitative trait that is genetic or environmental.
What is nature vs. nurture in regards to the polygene hypothesis?
Proportion of phenotypic variation in quantitative trait that is genetic or environmental.
What is the equation used to find the total phenotypic variance?
VP = VG + VE
Total Phenotypic Variance = Genetic Variance + Environmental Variance
» VP can also be shown as VT
Describe how to calculate the total phenotypic variance?
VP = VG + VE
Total Phenotypic Variance = Genetic Variance + Environmental Variance
» VP can also be shown as VT
What is heritability?
Proportion of phenotypic variance due to genes
Describe heritability
Heritability
Proportion of phenotypic variance due to genes
H2 = VG / VP
H2 -> value between 0 – 1
High heritability
»_space; Genetic differences in population
»_space; High proportion of phenotypic variation
-» Easier to identify genetic variants associated with trait than using
traits with low heritability.
Estimating Heritability:
» Twin Heritabilty Studies:
1. Identical (monozygotic twins ; MZ)
Share same environment & all alleles
Relatedness ; r = 1
2. Non-identical (dizygotic twins ; DZ)
Share same environment & half of their alleles
Relatedness ; r = 0.5
If MZ twins resemble more than DZ twins ; genes contribute to
variation in trait .
> Assumes equal environmental effects
»_space; Twin Concordance Studies:
Concordance:
Probability a twin is affected by a particular trait if their twin is
affected.
> Concordance = 1.0 -> Other twin always affected
= 0.6 -> 60% chance other twin affected.
Difference in concordance between MZ & DZ twins used to estimate hertitability.
Eg. MZ concordance = 0.50 (50%) ; DZ = 0.08 (8%)
Heritability = 0.85
Heritability Estimates in Humans:
Autism -> 0.4 - 0.9
BMI -> 0.5 – 0.9
Crohn’s -> 0.75
Height -> 0.6 – 0.8
IQ -> 0.3 – 0.8
T1 Diabetes -> 0.9
T2 Diabetes -> 0.4 – 0.8
High heritability does not mean genetic determination.
Differences between groups with high heritability for a trait are not
the result of genetic differences.What is the equation used to calculate heritability?
H2 = VG / VP
Describe how the value of heritability can be interpreted
H2 = VG / VP H2 -> value between 0 – 1 High heritability >> Genetic differences in population >> High proportion of phenotypic variation