Effects of Genetic Ancestry on Gene Expression in African Americans
Author Information
Author(s): Alkes L. Price, Nick Patterson, Dustin C. Hancks, Simon Myers, David Reich, Vivian G. Cheung, Richard S. Spielman
Primary Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
Hypothesis
How does genetic ancestry affect gene expression in African Americans?
Conclusion
The study found that genetic ancestry significantly influences gene expression differences in African Americans.
Supporting Evidence
- Gene expression differences among African Americans of varying ancestry proportions validate gene expression differences between European and African populations.
- 12±3% of all heritable variation in human gene expression is due to cis variants.
- Both cis and trans effects on gene expression were found to be significant.
Takeaway
This study shows that where your ancestors come from can change how your genes work, especially in African Americans.
Methodology
The study analyzed gene expression levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 89 African American samples and related these levels to their genome-wide proportion of European ancestry.
Potential Biases
Potential biases could arise from environmental factors affecting gene expression.
Limitations
The study's findings may not extend to other tissue types beyond lymphoblastoid cell lines.
Participant Demographics
Participants were African Americans with varying proportions of European ancestry.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<10−25
Confidence Interval
[0.38,0.47]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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