Emeritus Professor, Dept of History and Philosophy of Science, Pitt

Polygene Risk Scores: A Philosophical Exploration

This paper talk will  explore some issues having to do with  the interpretation and use of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) from a philosophy of science perspective. . It will  argue that  PRSs generally do not directly embody  causal information. Nonetheless, they can assist us in tracking other causal relationships concerning genetic effects. Although their purely predictive/correlational use is important, it is this tracking feature that contributes to their potential usefulness in other applications such as genetic dissection and  their use as controls that allow us to, indirectly, more clearly  "see" the role of environmental variables. 

Zoom option also available:
Meeting URL: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94807634631
Meeting ID:  948 0763 4631
Passcode: 2025