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Gene-Environment Interplay in Human Complex Traits
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Gene-Environment Interplay in Human Complex Traits

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2022) | Viewed by 10658

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jonathan Coleman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
Interests: statistical genomics; bioinformatics; psychiatric disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The combined evidence from decades of quantitative genetics and more than a decade of well-powered genome-wide association studies has demonstrated that many common traits and diseases in humans are associated with a complex of genetic and non-genetic (i.e., environmental) factors. Although many commonly used methods make the simplifying assumption that genetic and environmental effects act independently, it is widely appreciated that this is biologically implausible and that genetic and environmental factors have both separate and combined effects on complex traits.

In this Special Issue, we seek to bring together the latest research investigating this gene-environment interface. Examining genetic effects alongside specific and general environments provides vital context for understanding heterogeneity and progresses genetic research further towards biological insights into the role of these combined effects in human complex traits and diseases.

Dr. Jonathan Coleman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gene–environment
  • human genetics
  • environment
  • interaction
  • correlation
  • complex trait

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1902 KiB  
Article
Gene–Environment Correlation over Time: A Longitudinal Analysis of Polygenic Risk Scores for Schizophrenia and Major Depression in Three British Cohorts Studies
by Sandra Machlitt-Northen, Robert Keers, Patricia B. Munroe, David M. Howard and Michael Pluess
Genes 2022, 13(7), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13071136 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4112
Abstract
Research suggests that both genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in the aetiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Importantly, environmental and genetic risk factors are often related as evidenced in gene–environment correlation (rGE), which describes the observation that genetic [...] Read more.
Research suggests that both genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in the aetiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Importantly, environmental and genetic risk factors are often related as evidenced in gene–environment correlation (rGE), which describes the observation that genetic and environmental factors are associated with each other. It is understood that rGE gets stronger over time as individuals select their environments more actively based on their genetic propensities. However, little is known whether rGEs remain stable over time or change across different development periods. Using data from three British longitudinal cohorts, we investigated whether rGE patterns of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for SCZ and MDD changed over time across childhood and adulthood, as well as across both from birth to age 55 and whether results differed between SCZ and MDD. Overall, the majority of rGEs remained stable across the investigated development periods. Furthermore, the few detected rGE changes which did differ between SCZ and MDD, could not be explained by the confounding of clinical cases and are therefore likely the result of actual changes in environmental and cultural risk factors with genetic susceptibility to SCZ and MDD likely playing a less significant role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene-Environment Interplay in Human Complex Traits)
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11 pages, 604 KiB  
Article
Gene-Environment Interactions in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Dimensions: The Role of Unhealthy Food Habits
by Lin Li, Mark J. Taylor, Katarina Bälter, Tian Xie, Berit Skretting Solberg, Jan Haavik, Alejandro Arias Vásquez, Catharina A. Hartman and Henrik Larsson
Genes 2022, 13(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13010047 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5475
Abstract
Background: Dietary habits were investigated as environmental risk factors for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, no previous studies explored the effects of dietary factors on modifying the role of genetic factors on ADHD. Methods: Based on a Swedish population-based twin study with 1518 twin [...] Read more.
Background: Dietary habits were investigated as environmental risk factors for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, no previous studies explored the effects of dietary factors on modifying the role of genetic factors on ADHD. Methods: Based on a Swedish population-based twin study with 1518 twin pairs aged 20–47 years, we tested whether the importance of genetic and environmental effects on ADHD varied as a function of dietary habits. Self-reported dietary habits and ADHD symptoms were collected. Twin methods were used to test the degree to which high-sugar and unhealthy food intake moderated the genetic and environmental influences on ADHD symptoms. Results: In middle-aged adults, genetic influences on inattention symptoms were statistically significantly higher among individuals with higher levels of high-sugar (45%, 95%CI: 25–54%) and unhealthy food intake (51%, 95%CI: 31–60%), compared with those with lower levels of consumption of high-sugar (36%, 95%CI: 25–47%) and unhealthy foods (30%, 95%CI: 20–41%). Similar patterns were also found for the associations between hyperactivity/impulsivity and high-sugar/unhealthy food intake, even though the moderation effects were not statistically significant. Conclusion The present study suggests that genetic factors play a more prominent role in individual differences of ADHD symptoms in the presence of the high consumption of sugar and unhealthy foods. Future longitudinal studies with multiple assessments of ADHD and dietary habits are needed to replicate our findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene-Environment Interplay in Human Complex Traits)
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