Individual differences in propensity for resilience: insights from across the genome

Bucknor, Brianna Alexis

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115810 Copy

Description

Title

Individual differences in propensity for resilience: insights from across the genome

Author(s)

Bucknor, Brianna Alexis

Issue Date

2022-04-14

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Derringer, Jaime

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Derringer, Jaime

Committee Member(s)

• Briley, Daniel A
• Juraska, Janice
• Zhao, Sihai
• Gobin, Robyn L

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Resilience
• Genetics
• Psychology
• Stress
• Trauma

Abstract

As stress is one of the most consistently identified risk factors for the development of psychopathology—and a normal part of the human condition—there is increased interest in understanding resilience and why individuals differ in their response to trauma. One potential explanation might be found within the genome, as resilience has been identified as being moderately heritable (31-52%). However, the genetic variants underlying the observed heritability are still unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, a robust genome-wide association study (GWAS) of resilience using UK Biobank data (N = 153,625) was performed. Post-GWAS analyses were conducted to gain further insight into the heritability of resilience and the functional consequences of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) on genes. Results of the GWAS identified one genome-wide significant SNP (rs6096776, : 0.077, P = 1.156 x 10-8) on chromosome 20. However, several reached marginal-significance and were diffuse across the genome, indicating polygenicity. An additive SNP-heritability of 12% was estimated from a variant component analysis. Lastly, functional annotation identified rs6096776 to be intronic on ZFP64. Although ZFP64 has been identified as having clinical relevance, the variant, rs6096776, has not. The results of this work offer further evidence in support of a genetic influence on psychological resilience. While the genome-wide significant variant, rs6096776, did not offer much insight into the mechanism underlying resilience, additional post-GWAS analyses might help to further unravel this association and provide more nuanced insights.

Graduation Semester

2022-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Brianna Bucknor

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