Genetic Architecture
Definition
Genetic architecture is the combined effect of all genetic influences on a trait. This can include how many genes are involved, how common different versions (or variants) of those gene are in a population, what the individual effect of each variant is on the trait, as well as their potential interactions with each other. Mapping out the genetic architecture of a trait can help us understand the evolution and biology of a trait. For traits that are related to a disease, knowing the genetic architecture may help us identify people at risk for the disease or find treatments for it.
Narration
There are different ways we can think about how genetic differences among individuals influence traits. Or in other words, the observable characteristics of a person or organism. One way to define genetic architecture is to find the number of gene differences, how common those are in a population and how they all come together to influence differences and traits among individuals. Another way is to work out all the things that happen, such as the expression of genes in our cells or the development of the body that connect the sets of genes found in an organism and the traits it has. Genetic architecture can thus refer to all the parts in this map that describes how you get from genes to traits. In either case, because the effects of genes unfold in a given environment, the exact genetic architecture of a trait may depend on where and when or in the context in which organisms are living.
