How Participation Bias Impacts Heritability and Genetic Correlation Estimates

Quick Summary

• A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Volume 122, issue 25, June 2025) addresses participation bias in genetic studies.
• It highlights how participation bias can lead to inaccurate estimates of heritability and genetic correlation.
• The research reveals that participation itself is a complex behavioral phenotype influenced by genetic factors.
• the genetic component driving participation is not yet fully understood, according to the study findings.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Participation bias has broad implications for scientific research, including studies conducted in India where diverse populations reside with varying levels of access to education and healthcare. For a country like India, which values evidence-based policymaking, understanding the genetic factors influencing behavior could refine future large-scale public health or genomic projects. However, addressing such biases would likely require enhanced outreach strategies and tools designed specifically for inclusivity across socioeconomic strata to ensure accurate portrayal in Indian studies.

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