= Population structure
Nonrandom distribution of <genetic variation> among <biological populations>, shaped by ancestry, movement, reproduction and drift.
For example, an <allele> can be common in one ancestry group and rare in another even without a causal effect on a measured trait. If trait prevalence also differs between groups, a pooled association can reflect ancestry. Modelling structure helps distinguish that source of association from a locus-specific effect. <Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms by NHGRI>[Population Genomics and Genome-Wide Association Studies]{ref}
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