Mainstream media has picked up on the trend: genome-wide association studies are hot. The AP news team, best known for 10-line breaking news updates, was so excited it burst out with this feature-length article on why GWAS may be even better than sliced bread. "On a single day in February, for example, three separate research groups reported finding several genetic variants tied to the risk of getting prostate cancer," the article says.
For a less breathless view on the subject, check out this post from Daniel MacArthur at his Genetic Future blog. He lists a number of reasons why scientists should be more cautious with these studies. "Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on genome-wide association studies, most of the genetic variance in risk for most common diseases remains undiscovered," he writes. "Some common diseases with a strong heritable component, such as bipolar disease, have remained almost completely resistant to GWAS."
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