Background Increasingly, researchers are leveraging social science survey data and genomic samples from millions of biobank participants to develop polygenic indices (PGIs) for social and behavioral traits.Methods This article utilizes horizon scanning methodology to track academic and lay literature regarding PGIs.Results We identified and coded 441 academic and 123 lay literature items, tracking the traits, sources of genetic and health data, and how each item discussed the harms, benefits, an…
Read moreBackground Increasingly, researchers are leveraging social science survey data and genomic samples from millions of biobank participants to develop polygenic indices (PGIs) for social and behavioral traits.Methods This article utilizes horizon scanning methodology to track academic and lay literature regarding PGIs.Results We identified and coded 441 academic and 123 lay literature items, tracking the traits, sources of genetic and health data, and how each item discussed the harms, benefits, and limitations of sociogenomic PGIs.Conclusion This in-depth review highlights variation in the portrayal of PGI research across academic and lay literature. Beyond simply elucidating what is being studied, and in which populations, this research shows how results are communicated, which messages are shown to academic and/or public audiences, and potential disconnects between how sociogenomic researchers and the lay literature describe the values and implications of the research.
