What feature do Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) aggregate to predict complex traits like drug response?
Answer
The small, cumulative effects of many genetic variants across the genome.
Polygenic Risk Scores represent a sophisticated analytical tool designed to handle complexity where single-gene tests fall short. Unlike traditional PGx tests that might focus on a single, high-impact genetic variant known to affect drug metabolism (like a specific SNP in CYP2D6), PRS aggregate data from numerous genetic locations throughout the entire genome. Each individual variant may only contribute a minimal effect, but when these small, additive effects are summed together, they provide a predictive power for complex traits, including intricate drug responses, that a narrow genetic screen cannot achieve.
Related Questions
What is the fundamental aim of personalized medicine enabled by Pharmacogenomics (PGx)?What does the next wave of PGx advancement involve shifting away from in terms of testing methodology?What feature do Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) aggregate to predict complex traits like drug response?How does the future vision of PGx testing redefine the timing of its application compared to current practices?What process is deemed crucial for embedding PGx insights directly into the electronic health record (EHR) and clinical workflow?What sophisticated capability should future Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) possess regarding prescription writing?How is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) expected to improve drug response predictions beyond current rule-based systems?What two primary barriers are identified as crucial factors hindering the widespread scaling and equitable access of PGx testing?What specialized task will pharmacists perform by translating raw genotype data in the PGx pathway?What regulatory clarity is expected in the future regarding drug labels and PGx guidance from bodies like the FDA?