University of Bristol

Academic Institute

B3843

Recent studies have suggested that genetic variants associated with smoking behaviours may actually be influencing outcomes such as risk taking behaviours. This may pose a problem for analyses which assume that these genetic variants are associated with smoking behaviours and not with other outcomes. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether this is the case. We aim to assess whether genetic variants for smoking behaviours are also associated with other outcomes. We have conducted analyses in a separate cohort (the UK Biobank) which provides evidence to support this. However, we want to replicate analyses to see whether this is also the case in a different sample (ALSPAC) where selection into the UK Biobank might be different in ALSPAC and where we can also test associations in children prior to smoking. Our results will help inform future studies using these genetic variants for smoking behaviours.

This research will lead to a better understanding of the genetic influences on smoking behaviours and may help us to understand which measures are better used in different studies if pleiotropic effects are observed.

09/08/2021