Plink files from NYGC 1KG to be used for Cancer GWAS project QBIO475

Cancer risk is influenced by genetic variation and environment. However, allele frequencies for many cancer-associated variants remain poorly characterized across global populations. To address this gap and provide a framework for teaching population genetics using real human genomic data, undergraduate researchers analyzed population-level allele frequency variation for a curated set of cancer-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We assembled a set of variants from the GWAS Catalog databases based on reported associations with hereditary cancers, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, and lung cancer. Allele frequencies were extracted from the 1000 Genomes Project across five major continental groups. Students quantified differences in allele frequencies across these populations. The dataset includes curated PLINK files that may be used for future research or educational purposes in human genetics and bioinformatics.