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Polygenic Risk

Meaning

Polygenic risk refers to the cumulative genetic predisposition to a particular disease or trait that is conferred by the combined effects of numerous genetic variants, each having a small individual effect. Unlike monogenic diseases caused by a single gene mutation, polygenic conditions are influenced by hundreds or thousands of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed across the genome. In hormonal health, this concept is crucial for understanding an individual’s inherent susceptibility to complex conditions like Type 2 Diabetes or certain hormone-sensitive cancers. Genetic testing can quantify this risk via a Polygenic Risk Score (PRS).