Population genetic differentiation of height and body mass index across Europe

Nat Genet. 2015 Nov;47(11):1357-62. doi: 10.1038/ng.3401. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Abstract

Across-nation differences in the mean values for complex traits are common, but the reasons for these differences are unknown. Here we find that many independent loci contribute to population genetic differences in height and body mass index (BMI) in 9,416 individuals across 14 European countries. Using discovery data on over 250,000 individuals and unbiased effect size estimates from 17,500 sibling pairs, we estimate that 24% (95% credible interval (CI) = 9%, 41%) and 8% (95% CI = 4%, 16%) of the captured additive genetic variance for height and BMI, respectively, reflect population genetic differences. Population genetic divergence differed significantly from that in a null model (height, P < 3.94 × 10(-8); BMI, P < 5.95 × 10(-4)), and we find an among-population genetic correlation for tall and slender individuals (r = -0.80, 95% CI = -0.95, -0.60), consistent with correlated selection for both phenotypes. Observed differences in height among populations reflected the predicted genetic means (r = 0.51; P < 0.001), but environmental differences across Europe masked genetic differentiation for BMI (P < 0.58).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Body Height / genetics*
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Europe
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling / statistics & numerical data
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genetics, Population / methods
  • Genetics, Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / statistics & numerical data
  • Genotype
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Principal Component Analysis