AbstractThis letter reflects on my collaborations with Nick Martin over the past 18 years. Working together we have applied twin-family and statistical genetics methods to examine the genetic architecture and identify genetic variants influencing a range of physical, psychological and social traits. The common thread across much of this work has been the empirical questions: Why are we the way we are and how can this knowledge help us when things go wrong?
AbstractThis short essay recounts the author’s interactions with Nick Martin in the years they both worked with Lindon Eaves at Virginia Commonwealth University. Although coming from very different academic traditions, they became close colleagues building their young careers together. Nick generously shared his statistical genetics expertise and the author taught Nick a thing or two about psychiatric illness.
AbstractThe author provides a personal perspective on Nick Martin’s contributions to behavioral genetics and his role in the workshops on statistical genetics held annually in Boulder. Highlighted are Prof. Martin’s seminal work on multivariate behavioral genetics, his career-long commitment to the value of the study of twins, and his enthusiastic support of the didactic mission of the ‘Boulder workshops’. These contributions and activities continue unabated as we celebrate Prof. Martin’s 70th birthday.
A fast and efficient smoothing approach to Lasso regression and an application in statistical genetics: polygenic risk scores for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)