Penalised Regression Methods in Genetic Research

Overview

Complex human diseases usually have multifactorial causes, and may develop as a result of the collective effects of multiple genetic variants, complex gene-gene/gene-environment interactions, rare sequence variants, copy number alterations, epigenetic modifications, etc. Understanding the genetic aetiology of complex human diseases require a comprehensive assessment of these causes. Recently, penalised regression methods have gained popularity in genetic research, aiming to detect genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors contributing to complex human diseases. In this article, we attempt to provide a brief overview of these methods in light of their applications in various contexts of genetic research.