From Buccal to Bonferroni in Genetically Informative Prevention Research I: The Initial Stage for Development, Execution, and Analysis of a Genetically Informed Prevention Study

The incorporation of genetic information into prevention research is becoming increasingly common. However, familiarity with the terminology, protocols, and analyses considered prerequisites to developing a sound genetically informed project is a difficult first step. Many molecular geneticists take for granted the fundamentals of such projects creating a knowledge gap between behavioral scientists and molecular biologists. In order to bring genetics into prevention research, communication lines need to be open and fundamental questions addressed.

The gPROSPER project, a genetically-oriented extension of the PROSPER project (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience), has worked for the last 3 years to add DNA, assay genotypes, and develop analytic frameworks for genetically informative prevention research. The interdisciplinary gPROSPER team of prevention scientists, behavioral geneticists, and molecular geneticists have worked to identify and address basic knowledge gaps and decision points that confront attempts to do genetically informed prevention research.

This poster and the two that follow, entitled From Buccal to Bonferroni in Genetically Informative Prevention Research I, II, and III, highlight the steps and protocols common to most human genetic studies and many of the critical elements to consider prior to embarking on a genetically informed prevention project. Importantly, we address common pitfalls and errors in genetic projects, and how to avoid them. The current poster focuses on preliminary issues surrounding study design, marker selection, data collection, and Internal Review Board approval. The sources of DNA and the issues surrounding blood versus buccal swabs versus spit are presented. We also address questions related to DNA extraction, quality, and concentration from various collection methods. Several methods of DNA quality assessment are available and vary in usefulness and cost. The DNA storage and sample management options will be described to help position behavioral science researchers to move into the genotyping and data collection phase for long-term studies of prevention science.