colocalization
/koʊˌloʊkəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
A statistical method used in genetic studies to determine if two different traits are influenced by the same shared genetic variant, rather than by separate variants that happen to be near each other.
Etymology
The word is formed from the prefix 'co-' (together) and 'localization' (the process of determining a location). It combines the Latin 'com-' with the Latin 'localis', describing the process of identifying that two or more things share the same specific place or position.
In the news
In this study, researchers used colocalization to see if the genetic variants linked to body mass index (BMI) were the same ones causing improvements in mental health outcomes. This helps confirm if the health benefits are truly tied to the same genetic source.
GLP-1 receptor activation linked to lower depression and bipolar disorder odds
Read the full article ↗News-Medical