The next 10 years of behavioural genomic research

JCPP Adv. 2022 Nov 4;2(4):e12112. doi: 10.1002/jcv2.12112. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: The explosion caused by the fusion of quantitative genetics and molecular genetics will transform behavioural genetic research in child and adolescent psychology and psychiatry.

Methods: Although the fallout has not yet settled, the goal of this paper is to predict the next 10 years of research in what could be called behavioural genomics.

Results: I focus on three research directions: the genetic architecture of psychopathology, causal modelling of gene-environment interplay, and the use of DNA as an early warning system.

Conclusion: Eventually, whole-genome sequencing will be available for all newborns, which means that behavioural genomics could potentially be applied ubiquitously in research and clinical practice.

Keywords: causal modelling; genetics; genomics; nosology; polygenic scores.