Phased whole-genome genetic risk in a family quartet using a major allele reference sequence

Whole-genome sequencing harbors unprecedented potential for characterization of individual and family genetic variation. Here, we develop a novel synthetic human reference sequence that is ethnically concordant and use it for the analysis of genomes from a nuclear family with history of familial thrombophilia. We demonstrate that the use of the major allele reference sequence results in improved genotype accuracy for disease-associated variant loci. We infer recombination sites to the lowest median resolution demonstrated to date (
Author Summary An individual's genetic profile plays an important role in determining risk for disease and response to medical therapy. The development of technologies that facilitate rapid whole-genome sequencing will provide unprecedented power in the estimation of disease risk. Here we develop methods to characterize genetic determinants of disease risk and response to medical therapy in a nuclear family of four, leveraging population genetic profiles from recent large scale sequencing projects. We identify the way in which genetic information flows through the family to identify sequencing errors and inheritance patterns of genes contributing to disease risk. In doing so we identify genetic risk factors associated with an inherited predisposition to blood clot formation and response to blood thinning medications. We find that this aligns precisely with the most significant disease to occur to date in the family, namely pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lung. These ethnicity-specific, family-based approaches to interpretation of individual genetic profiles are emblematic of the next generation of genetic risk assessment using whole-genome sequencing.