Distinguishing social and medical traits: perspectives of scientists using polygenic scores

Margaret Waltz; Karen M. Meagher; Courtney Canter; Matthew Kucmanic; Kristine J. Kuczynski; Anya E. R. Prince; R. Jean Cadigan

doi:10.1007/s12687-026-00857-z

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Distinguishing social and medical traits: perspectives of scientists using polygenic scores

Journal article

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Distinguishing social and medical traits: perspectives of scientists using polygenic scores

Margaret Waltz, Karen M. Meagher, Courtney Canter, Matthew Kucmanic, Kristine J. Kuczynski, Anya E. R. Prince and R. Jean Cadigan

Journal of community genetics, Vol.17(1), p.29

02/14/2026

DOI: 10.1007/s12687-026-00857-z

PMID: 41688830

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Abstract

Polygenic scores (PGS) have been developed for a wide variety of traits, such as cancer, risk tolerance, obesity, asthma, educational attainment, and cardiovascular disease. Prior research shows that the public tends to view the use of genetic information for medical traits more favorably than for social or other non-medical traits, and legal and policy discourse regularly treats medical and social traits as distinct categories. However, distinguishing between social and medical traits can be conceptually and practically challenging. Drawing on 47 semi-structured interviews with researchers who have developed or utilized PGS across a range of traits, this study examines how scientists discussed and conceptualized a dividing line between what is medical and what is social, as well as the perceived necessity of a medical/social divide. Overall, the scientists we interviewed broadly agreed that the line is ambiguous; they did not hold unequivocal views about what constitutes a social versus a medical trait, nor where a clear line might be drawn. Instead, they reasoned through any distinctions between social and medical traits in varied and sometimes conflicting ways, including attempting to draw the line, highlighting the role of social context in drawing the line, questioning the line's relevance, and pointing to the line's policy implications. We argue that this ambiguity has significant implications for how PGS research is conducted, interpreted, and regulated, calling for a reexamination of regulatory strategies that rely on this distinction.

Polygenic scores

Scientist interviews

Social traits

Medical traits

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Distinguishing social and medical traits: perspectives of scientists using polygenic scores
Creators: Margaret Waltz - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Karen M. Meagher - Temple Univ, Ctr Hlth Justice & Bioeth, Lewis Katz Sch Med, Philadelphia, PA USA
Courtney Canter - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Matthew Kucmanic - University of Iowa
Kristine J. Kuczynski - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Anya E. R. Prince - University of Iowa, Law Faculty
R. Jean Cadigan - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of community genetics, Vol.17(1), p.29
DOI: 10.1007/s12687-026-00857-z
PMID: 41688830
ISSN: 1868-310X
eISSN: 1868-6001
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: 1R0HG012402 / National Human Genome Research Institute; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Language: English
Date published: 02/14/2026
Academic Unit: Law Faculty
Record Identifier: 9985160642002771

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