Transcriptome correlations vs causation

Using Mendelian randomization and observed transcriptomic correlations, we show that gene expression changes linked to disease more often reflect consequences of the disease than causes.

Porcu, E., Sadler, M.C., Lepik, K. et al. Differentially expressed genes reflect disease-induced rather than disease-causing changes in the transcriptome. Nat Commun 12, 5647 (2021).