ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Genetic association

Genetic association refers to when scientists try to figure out if certain genes in our bodies are linked with certain traits or diseases.

Think of your genes like a recipe book for your body. They determine things like your eye color, height, and even how your body processes certain foods. Scientists are interested in finding out if certain genes are linked to health conditions like diabetes or even things like being a picky eater.

To study genetic association, scientists will look at large groups of people and compare their genes to see if there are any patterns. They might look at people who have a certain health condition to see if they all have a certain gene in common.

The goal is to find out which genes might be responsible for certain traits or diseases. Once they know which genes are involved, they can work on developing better treatments or tools to help people who are affected.

So in short, genetic association is like a big puzzle where scientists are trying to figure out how our genes affect the way our bodies work!