Population genetic analyses of gene expression and complex traits
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- A central goal of human genetics is to understand how the genome contributes to complex traits like height, BMI, and risk for many common diseases. This question is particularly challenging to answer in that analyses of human complex traits rely largely on observational data. In this dissertation, I present several projects that utilize statistical models and careful interpretation of data to infer features of latent process from observational data. First, I aim to improve our understanding of human complex trait architecture by exploring the effects of selective constraint on gene expression. I demonstrate that, while there is clear evidence of widespread constraint on gene expression, this selection is weak. Much of the variance of gene expression across individuals is, therefore, attributable to common genetic variants. Consistent with existing literature, this suggests that the genetic architecture of complex traits is highly polygenic. I also consider the role of previously under-studied contributors to genetic variance (e.g., epistatic interactions, somatic variation, and short tandem repeats) in complex traits. In addition, I apply the same careful consideration of confounders and data interpretation to measure, and understand possible drivers of, gendered differences in behavior between men and women scientists at academic meetings.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic resource; remote; computer; online resource |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Place | California |
| Place | [Stanford, California] |
| Publisher | [Stanford University] |
| Copyright date | 2018; ©2018 |
| Publication date | 2018; 2018 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Glassberg, Emily Catherine |
|---|---|
| Degree supervisor | Feldman, Marcus W |
| Degree supervisor | Pritchard, Jonathan D |
| Thesis advisor | Feldman, Marcus W |
| Thesis advisor | Pritchard, Jonathan D |
| Thesis advisor | Fraser, Hunter B |
| Thesis advisor | Montgomery, Stephen, 1979- |
| Degree committee member | Fraser, Hunter B |
| Degree committee member | Montgomery, Stephen, 1979- |
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Biology. |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|---|
| Genre | Text |
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Emily C. Glassberg. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Biology. |
| Thesis | Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2018. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2018 by Emily Catherine Glassberg
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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