Date: September 30, 2026
Instructors: Peter Kraft, Jayati Sharma
Topics Covered
This session covers the use of population descriptors (including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, and genetic ancestry) in genetic research and gene-environment interactions.
PDFs of the required and optional reading materials are also available on Biowulf at:
/data/DCEG_shared/statgen_workshop_2026/reading_material/session3/
Practical Tutorial
The Gene–Environment Interaction Lab (03_gxe_lab.Rmd) uses two simulated datasets to compare interaction on multiplicative and additive scales. See the Practical page for objectives, setup instructions, and lab activities.
Required Reading Before the Session
Please read the following materials before Wednesday’s session:
- NASEM report highlights (2023): read 2 pages. Using Population Descriptors in Genetics and Genomics Research: A New Framework for an Evolving Field — Report Highlights. The linked highlights PDF contains four pages. Full report.
- Kraft & Hunter: read pages 1–7 of the chapter. The challenge of assessing complex gene–environment and gene–gene interactions. Chapter 9 in Human Genome Epidemiology, second edition, pp. 165–187. DOI.
Optional Reading After the Session
The following readings are optional resources for further study after the session:
- Gene–environment interactions in human health. Herrera-Luis et al. (2024). Nature Reviews Genetics, 25:768–784. A review of gene–environment interactions in human health. Publisher page.
- A data model for population descriptors in genomic research. Khan et al. (2025). American Journal of Human Genetics, 112:1504–1514. A data model to operationalize population descriptors in genomics research. Publisher page · Free full text.
- Getting genetic ancestry right for science and society. Lewis et al. (2022). Science, 376(6590):250–252. Additional information on genetic ancestry and ethical considerations in genomics research. Publisher page · Free full text.