Open problems in human trait genetics

Genetic studies of human traits have revolutionized our understanding of the variation between individuals, and yet, the genetics of most traits is still poorly understood. In this review, we highlight the major open problems that need to be solved, and by discussing these challenges provide a primer to the field. We cover general issues such as population structure, epistasis and gene-environment interactions, data-related issues such as ancestry diversity and rare genetic variants, and specific challenges related to heritability estimates, genetic association studies, and polygenic risk scores. We emphasize the interconnectedness of these problems and suggest promising avenues to address them.

Automated summary

This review discusses the problems in genetic studies of human traits, focusing on population structure, epistasis, gene-environment interactions, ancestry diversity, rare genetic variants, heritability estimates, genetic association studies, and polygenic risk scores. It suggests promising avenues to address these interconnected problems.