Recent analyses of polygenic scores have opened new discussions concerning the genetic basis and evolutionary significance of differences among populations in distributions of phenotypes. Here, we highlight limitations in research on polygenic scores, polygenic adaptation and population differences. We show how genetic contributions to traits, as estimated by polygenic scores, combine with environmental contributions so that differences among populations in trait distributions need not reflect corresponding differences in genetic propensity. Under a null model in which phenotypes are selectively neutral, genetic propensity differences contributing to phenotypic differences among populations are predicted to be small. We illustrate this null hypothesis in relation to health disparities between African Americans and European Americans, discussing alternative hypotheses with selective and environmental effects. Close attention to the limitations of research on polygenic phenomena is important for the interpretation of their relationship to human population differences.

中文翻译：

---

解释多基因评分、多基因适应和人类表型差异。

最近对多基因评分的分析开启了关于群体间表型分布差异的遗传基础和进化意义的新讨论。在这里，我们强调多基因评分、多基因适应和种群差异研究的局限性。我们展示了通过多基因评分估计的遗传对性状的贡献如何与环境贡献相结合，以便群体之间性状分布的差异不必反映遗传倾向的相应差异。在表型选择性中性的零模型下，预测导致群体间表型差异的遗传倾向差异很小。我们阐述了与非裔美国人和欧洲裔美国人之间的健康差异相关的零假设，讨论了具有选择性和环境影响的替代假设。密切关注多基因现象研究的局限性对于解释它们与人类群体差异的关系非常重要。