Our work on the generalizability of polygenic scores (PGS) from the @arbelharpak.bsky.social Lab is now officially out!
We examine the accuracy of PGS predictions at the individual level. We make 3 observations that expose gaps in our understanding of PGS “portability.”
rdcu.be/e0LAr
(1/27)
We examine the accuracy of PGS predictions at the individual level. We make 3 observations that expose gaps in our understanding of PGS “portability.”
rdcu.be/e0LAr
(1/27)
Three open questions in polygenic score portability
Nature Communications - Genetic predictors of health outcomes often drop in accuracy when applied to people dissimilar to participants of large genetic studies. Here, the authors investigate the...
rdcu.be
January 26, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Our work on the generalizability of polygenic scores (PGS) from the @arbelharpak.bsky.social Lab is now officially out!
We examine the accuracy of PGS predictions at the individual level. We make 3 observations that expose gaps in our understanding of PGS “portability.”
rdcu.be/e0LAr
(1/27)
We examine the accuracy of PGS predictions at the individual level. We make 3 observations that expose gaps in our understanding of PGS “portability.”
rdcu.be/e0LAr
(1/27)
New preprint: "The triple burden of mental illness? A sibling analysis of parental education, polygenic scores, and gene–environment interactions" osf.io/preprints/so... We would be super happy to receive your feedback into account when revising it during the review process.
OSF
osf.io
January 26, 2026 at 10:33 AM
New preprint: "The triple burden of mental illness? A sibling analysis of parental education, polygenic scores, and gene–environment interactions" osf.io/preprints/so... We would be super happy to receive your feedback into account when revising it during the review process.
By combining millions of genetic variants into polygenic scores (PGS), researchers can predict educational & mental health outcomes.
In her new blog, PhD student Yujing Lin shows how PGS work through family & environmental contexts, not just biology. 🔗
In her new blog, PhD student Yujing Lin shows how PGS work through family & environmental contexts, not just biology. 🔗
January 28, 2026 at 2:18 PM
By combining millions of genetic variants into polygenic scores (PGS), researchers can predict educational & mental health outcomes.
In her new blog, PhD student Yujing Lin shows how PGS work through family & environmental contexts, not just biology. 🔗
In her new blog, PhD student Yujing Lin shows how PGS work through family & environmental contexts, not just biology. 🔗
Quantifying Polygenic scores to determine your risk to diseases and mutations, some arguing they can be cured. Others determining ur value. This is a dangerous line to be drawn...who determines? And the techno-facists are now facing off with religious-nationalists to decide consumer gene editing.
🫠 Heritage Foundations had a round table chat about the pros and cons of Gene editing. It's frightening.
www.heritage.org/life/event/e...
www.heritage.org/life/event/e...
Editing Destiny: The Debate Over Human Genetics
www.heritage.org
January 26, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Quantifying Polygenic scores to determine your risk to diseases and mutations, some arguing they can be cured. Others determining ur value. This is a dangerous line to be drawn...who determines? And the techno-facists are now facing off with religious-nationalists to decide consumer gene editing.
Reproductive autonomy has long been a core ethical principle of genetic counseling. But polygenic screening of embryos for non-medical traits uses the autonomy argument to justify the practice. THhs eugenic practice turns the ethical tables on us.
Justifying Preimplantation Polygenic Embryo Screening: The Autonomy Chickens Come Home To Roost
Autonomy has been a core guiding ethical principle of genetic counselors pretty much since the profession's founding in the early 1970s. There are various definitions of autonomy but on a work-a-day basis in genetic counseling, it is usually conceptualized as the right of patients to make decisions about genetic testing that are educated and without undue external influence or pressure. It relies heavily on information-based consent.
thednaexchange.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Reproductive autonomy has long been a core ethical principle of genetic counseling. But polygenic screening of embryos for non-medical traits uses the autonomy argument to justify the practice. THhs eugenic practice turns the ethical tables on us.
We would like to point out excellent work by Yi Ding, @bpasaniuc.bsky.social et al. which relatedly analyzes attributes of polygenic scores as a function of genetic distance from the GWAS sample.
rdcu.be/e0QzA
(7/27)
rdcu.be/e0QzA
(7/27)
Polygenic scoring accuracy varies across the genetic ancestry continuum
Nature - Using two large biobank datasets, a study shows that the accuracy of polygenic scores decreases as a function of relatedness at the individual level when modelling genetic ancestry as a...
rdcu.be
January 26, 2026 at 11:20 PM
We would like to point out excellent work by Yi Ding, @bpasaniuc.bsky.social et al. which relatedly analyzes attributes of polygenic scores as a function of genetic distance from the GWAS sample.
rdcu.be/e0QzA
(7/27)
rdcu.be/e0QzA
(7/27)
The NYT has never "fallen" for race science... the science section has been open in its embrace of genetic determinism, sociobiology/evopsych, IQ studies, and polygenic scores for decades. It obviously informs editorial practices being the science "reporting."
January 24, 2026 at 1:06 PM
The NYT has never "fallen" for race science... the science section has been open in its embrace of genetic determinism, sociobiology/evopsych, IQ studies, and polygenic scores for decades. It obviously informs editorial practices being the science "reporting."
🆕 New Hastings Bioethics Forum essay by @daphmarts.bsky.social & @juliaehbrown.bsky.social : As #fertility fears rise, #pronatalism pushes for more children—and increasingly, “better” ones...Genetic tools like polygenic embryo selection, raise serious ethical concerns.
👉 https://bit.ly/3YF5UdM
👉 https://bit.ly/3YF5UdM
January 16, 2026 at 8:49 PM
🆕 New Hastings Bioethics Forum essay by @daphmarts.bsky.social & @juliaehbrown.bsky.social : As #fertility fears rise, #pronatalism pushes for more children—and increasingly, “better” ones...Genetic tools like polygenic embryo selection, raise serious ethical concerns.
👉 https://bit.ly/3YF5UdM
👉 https://bit.ly/3YF5UdM
A glucocorticoid-responsive polygenic signature in the anterior cingulate cortex moderates the association of early-life adversity and vulnerability for depression https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.14.699350v1
January 15, 2026 at 6:15 AM
A glucocorticoid-responsive polygenic signature in the anterior cingulate cortex moderates the association of early-life adversity and vulnerability for depression https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.14.699350v1
Easing back into things with a scan of the global status of commercial #sclerotinia resistance in #canola. Happy to be reminded of the pioneering work of Cibus who are tackling this complex, polygenic trait with high throughput gene editing (www.producer.com/news/company...). 2029 is not far away!
Gene-Edited Sclerotinia Resistant Canola by 2029
Cibus is field testing gene-edited sclerotinia-resistant canola, aiming for market availability by 2029 to help growers combat yield losses.
www.producer.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Easing back into things with a scan of the global status of commercial #sclerotinia resistance in #canola. Happy to be reminded of the pioneering work of Cibus who are tackling this complex, polygenic trait with high throughput gene editing (www.producer.com/news/company...). 2029 is not far away!
Next is our own Vangelis Vassos talking about the implementation of polygenic scores in psychiatry, and whether we are ready yet
January 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Next is our own Vangelis Vassos talking about the implementation of polygenic scores in psychiatry, and whether we are ready yet
Why do some individuals defy their polygenic score?
In the largest study of its kind (402k UKB individuals; 7 continuous traits + 3 diseases), we asked: If your phenotype deviates from common-variant polygenic score prediction, what's driving that difference?
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
In the largest study of its kind (402k UKB individuals; 7 continuous traits + 3 diseases), we asked: If your phenotype deviates from common-variant polygenic score prediction, what's driving that difference?
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
January 6, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Why do some individuals defy their polygenic score?
In the largest study of its kind (402k UKB individuals; 7 continuous traits + 3 diseases), we asked: If your phenotype deviates from common-variant polygenic score prediction, what's driving that difference?
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
In the largest study of its kind (402k UKB individuals; 7 continuous traits + 3 diseases), we asked: If your phenotype deviates from common-variant polygenic score prediction, what's driving that difference?
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
In other words, the current modality using genetics and polygenic risk scoring does not provide any prediction to amyloid accumulation. Hypothesis: DNA Methylation is altering the genetic risk and can be measured by amyloid accumulation.
Excited to see the outcomes 🤞
Excited to see the outcomes 🤞
January 2, 2026 at 5:12 AM
In other words, the current modality using genetics and polygenic risk scoring does not provide any prediction to amyloid accumulation. Hypothesis: DNA Methylation is altering the genetic risk and can be measured by amyloid accumulation.
Excited to see the outcomes 🤞
Excited to see the outcomes 🤞
Happy to share another important piece of the puzzle as we try to figure out the chicken-or-egg question of cannabis use in schizophrenia: Investigating the polygenic relationship between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia in the All of Us Research Program www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Investigating the polygenic relationship between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia in the All of Us Research Program | Psychological Medicine | Cambridge Core
Investigating the polygenic relationship between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia in the All of Us Research Program - Volume 55
www.cambridge.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Happy to share another important piece of the puzzle as we try to figure out the chicken-or-egg question of cannabis use in schizophrenia: Investigating the polygenic relationship between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia in the All of Us Research Program www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
God has given me the greatest challenge, nay burden, by having me inherit a set of polygenic traits, which causes me to be attracted to men.
God what is it that you want me to learn, perhaps one day even grow to understand about these wholly unserious creatures .... idk man
God what is it that you want me to learn, perhaps one day even grow to understand about these wholly unserious creatures .... idk man
December 22, 2025 at 1:44 AM
God has given me the greatest challenge, nay burden, by having me inherit a set of polygenic traits, which causes me to be attracted to men.
God what is it that you want me to learn, perhaps one day even grow to understand about these wholly unserious creatures .... idk man
God what is it that you want me to learn, perhaps one day even grow to understand about these wholly unserious creatures .... idk man
These genetic signals translated to prediction. Polygenic scores derived from MTAG strongly predicted incident aortic stenosis, with ~3-fold higher risk among individuals in the top 5% of polygenic risk in MGB Biobank and AllofUs.
8/10
8/10
December 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
These genetic signals translated to prediction. Polygenic scores derived from MTAG strongly predicted incident aortic stenosis, with ~3-fold higher risk among individuals in the top 5% of polygenic risk in MGB Biobank and AllofUs.
8/10
8/10
Nucleus Genomics recently plastered the New York City subway with ads urging prospective parents to “pick your best baby” using their $30,000 polygenic embryo screening service, which they call “IVF+.”
‘Have your best baby!’: The genetics company promoting smart, tall babies
Nucleus Genomics, which has plastered the claim ‘height is 80 per cent genetic’ over the New York subway, has been accused of a misuse of science
www.thetimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Nucleus Genomics recently plastered the New York City subway with ads urging prospective parents to “pick your best baby” using their $30,000 polygenic embryo screening service, which they call “IVF+.”
And of course there’s zero problem with the factuality of the claim that “iq is 50% genetic” as opposed to “intelligence is a polygenic trait and there is dispute about what exactly an IQ score measures” which would admittedly be less catchy
December 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
And of course there’s zero problem with the factuality of the claim that “iq is 50% genetic” as opposed to “intelligence is a polygenic trait and there is dispute about what exactly an IQ score measures” which would admittedly be less catchy
If eugenics is of concern, we need a coalition from a wide range of expertise together with engagements towards families seeking reproductive assistance. For instance, just complaining about the technical aspects of polygenic scoring is just too defensive, though looks *scientific*.
December 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
If eugenics is of concern, we need a coalition from a wide range of expertise together with engagements towards families seeking reproductive assistance. For instance, just complaining about the technical aspects of polygenic scoring is just too defensive, though looks *scientific*.
Important new, large (N>28,000 women) randomized clinical trial of breast cancer screening: age-based vs risk-based by polygenic risk score, genomics
"opportunity to modernize screening"
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
"opportunity to modernize screening"
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Risk-Based vs Annual Breast Cancer Screening
This randomized clinical trial examines whether risk-based screening is a safe and effective alternative to annual mammography for detecting breast cancer in women 40 years and older.
jamanetwork.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Important new, large (N>28,000 women) randomized clinical trial of breast cancer screening: age-based vs risk-based by polygenic risk score, genomics
"opportunity to modernize screening"
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
"opportunity to modernize screening"
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
3/
Identification of Novel Reproducible Combinatorial Genetic Risk Factors for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the DecodeME Patient Cohort and Commonalities with Long COVID
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
Identification of Novel Reproducible Combinatorial Genetic Risk Factors for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the DecodeME Patient Cohort and Commonalities with Long COVID
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
December 10, 2025 at 2:44 AM
3/
Identification of Novel Reproducible Combinatorial Genetic Risk Factors for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the DecodeME Patient Cohort and Commonalities with Long COVID
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
Identification of Novel Reproducible Combinatorial Genetic Risk Factors for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the DecodeME Patient Cohort and Commonalities with Long COVID
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#MEcfs #LongCovid
New research highlights the importance of better patient-provider communication about #breast #cancer risk and bridging gaps in #polygenic #risk score literacy to boost personalized screening uptake. bit.ly/4iHwkVe #PRS
December 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
New research highlights the importance of better patient-provider communication about #breast #cancer risk and bridging gaps in #polygenic #risk score literacy to boost personalized screening uptake. bit.ly/4iHwkVe #PRS
«The finding contradicts the general consensus on the polygenic origin of mental disorders. Until now, clinicians have considered that these diseases arise from the interaction of multiple factors, including genetic ones.»
1/3
1/3
For the First Time, Mutations in a Single Gene Have Been Linked to Mental Illness
Research links variations in the gene GRIN2A to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness.
www.wired.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
«The finding contradicts the general consensus on the polygenic origin of mental disorders. Until now, clinicians have considered that these diseases arise from the interaction of multiple factors, including genetic ones.»
1/3
1/3
would add to this that any polygenic selection criteria for IQ will inevitably pull through a bunch of linkages and pleiotropies that i would wager heavily are "psychologically suboptimal"
December 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
would add to this that any polygenic selection criteria for IQ will inevitably pull through a bunch of linkages and pleiotropies that i would wager heavily are "psychologically suboptimal"
(the real question is "can we get a polygenic score for propensity to respect the autonomy of other humans that's worth a damn?")
December 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
(the real question is "can we get a polygenic score for propensity to respect the autonomy of other humans that's worth a damn?")