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0The paper introduces FastGxC, a novel statistical method designed to map context-specific eQTLs more efficiently than previous models. By decomposing gene expression into shared and specific components, the tool identifies how genetic variants regulate gene activity across various tissues and cell types while accounting for intra-individual correlations. Research simulations demonstrate that FastGxC is significantly more powerful and faster than existing approaches, reducing computational timelines from years to minutes. Application of the method to GTEx and single-cell datasets reveals that context-specific regulatory patterns are pervasive and driven by effect-size heterogeneity. Furthermore, the tool improves the precision of linking GWAS variants to relevant biological contexts, expanding the number of candidate causal genes for complex diseases. Ultimately, FastGxC offers a robust framework for understanding the genetic underpinnings of human traits through high-resolution regulatory mapping.
References:
Krockenberger L, Lu A, Thompson M, et al. FastGxC: Fast and powerful context-specific eQTL mapping in bulk and single-cell data[J]. Cell Genomics, 2026.
