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Genetic Risk Score

Meaning

A Genetic Risk Score (GRS), also known as a Polygenic Risk Score (PRS), is a calculated value that quantifies an individual’s cumulative genetic predisposition to a specific complex disease or trait, such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This score aggregates the small, additive effects of thousands of common genetic variants, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), across the entire genome. It provides a more comprehensive risk estimate than focusing on a single gene mutation, offering a personalized layer of predictive information for clinical planning.