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Vincent Jaddoe and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for infant head circumference. They identify variants in SBNO1 and near HMGA2 that are associated with this phenotype.

Inbreeding depression has been observed in many different species, but in humans a systematic analysis has been difficult so far. Here, analysing more than 1.3 million individuals, the authors show that a genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH) is associated with disadvantageous outcomes in 32 out of 100 traits tested.

Trans-ancestry meta-analysis of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from 1,046,070 individuals identifies 264 associated loci, providing a resource of molecular targets for translational research of chronic kidney disease.

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UCAR) is associated with various clinical outcomes such as kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Here, the authors report genome-wide meta-analysis in over 500,000 individuals and find 68 UACR loci, followed by statistical fine-mapping, gene prioritization and experimental validation in flies.

Mark McCarthy and colleagues report a genome-wide association study of birth weight. They identified two loci, in ADCY5 and near CCNL1, that are associated with birth weight and explain 0.3% and 0.1% of the variance in birth weight, respectively.

An expanded GWAS of birth weight and subsequent analysis using structural equation modeling and Mendelian randomization decomposes maternal and fetal genetic contributions and causal links between birth weight, blood pressure and glycemic traits.

The authors perform meta-analysis of GWAS studies for asthma from multiancestral cohorts. They identify five new loci and find that the asthma-associated loci are enriched near enhancer marks in immune cells.

Genome-wide analyses using fetal and parental genotypes identify 40 independent associations influencing placental weight and highlight the role of the fetus in preeclampsia risk and placental growth regulation via insulin signaling.

Melinda Mills, Nicola Barban, Harold Snieder, Marcel den Hoed and colleagues perform a meta-analysis of data from over 300,000 individuals for age at first birth and number of children ever born. They identify 12 significant loci that associate with these traits, providing insights into the genetic basis of human reproductive behavior.

DNA methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) analyses on 32,851 participants identify genetic variants associated with DNA methylation at 420,509 sites in blood, resulting in a database of >270,000 independent mQTLs.

Analysis of human genotypes and 16S microbiome data of 18,473 individuals from 25 cohorts through a genome-wide association study, a phenome-wide association study and Mendelian randomization identifies host genetic and microbial trait associations.

Our understanding of the functional link between differential DNA methylation and type 2 diabetes and obesity remains limited. Here the authors present a blood-based EWAS of fasting glucose and insulin among 4808 non-diabetic Europeans and identify nine CpGs not previously implicated in glucose, insulin homeostasis and diabetes.

Birthweight has been found to associate with later-life health outcomes. Here the authors perform a meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies of 8,825 neonates from 24 birth cohorts in the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics Consortium, identifying differentially methylated CpGs in neonatal blood that associate with birthweight.

The genetic basis of expressive vocabulary in children around 2 years old is poorly understood. Here, the authors show that a genetic variant near the ROBO2gene is associated with early language acquisition in the general population and highlight a potential genetic link between language-related common genetic variation and a linkage region for dyslexia, speech-sound disorder and reading.

Gestational duration depends on both maternal and fetal genetic influences. Here, the authors perform a fetal genome-wide association meta-analysis and find that a locus on 2q13 is associated with pregnancy duration and further show that the lead SNP rs7594852 changes the binding properties of transcriptional repressor HIC1.

In this Review, Gaillard and Jaddoe describe how maternal cardiovascular disorders, occurring before and during pregnancy, can influence cardiovascular health in the offspring from embryonic life until adulthood. Furthermore, the authors highlight critical periods for cardiovascular adaptations, including preconception, early pregnancy and infancy, and how the events occurring during these periods can have an effect on future cardiovascular health.

Rachel Freathy and colleagues report results of a large-scale genome-wide association study of birth weight. They identify four loci newly associated with this trait and find overlap between birth weight–associated loci and those influencing adult height and metabolism.

Genome-wide association analyses identify new risk loci for allergic rhinitis and for sensitization to inhalant allergens. The associated regions implicate immune-related pathways, including innate and adaptive IgE-related mechanisms.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses for birth weight in 153,781 individuals identified 60 genomic loci in which birth weight and fetal genotype were associated and found an inverse genetic correlation between birth weight and cardiometabolic risk.

Folic acid is routinely recommended for women trying to conceive to ensure proper fetal development. Here, the authors perform a large epigenomics study to examine which fetal epigenetic changes are associated with varied maternal plasma folate levels.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an acute infection of middle ear mucosa and among the most common pediatric diseases. Here, the authors performed a genome-wide association study to link a variant in the FNDC1 locus on 6q25.3 and differential methylation status of the FNDC1gene with predisposition to AOM.

Size and shape of the brain are, among others, influenced by the dimensions of the skull. Here, the authors report genome-wide association studies for head circumference and intracranial volume in children and adults and the identification of nine common or low-frequency variants associated with these traits.

Lavinia Paternoster and colleagues report a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of atopic dermatitis. They report three newly identified associated loci near OVOL1 and ACTL9 and in KIF3A.

Bone mineral density and lean skeletal mass are heritable traits. Here, Medina-Gomez and colleagues perform bivariate GWAS analyses of total body lean mass and bone mass density in children, and show genetic loci with pleiotropic effects on both traits.

A large-scale GWAS provides insight on diabetes-dependent genetic effects on the glomerular filtration rate, a common metric to monitor kidney health in disease.

Klaus Bønnelykke and colleagues identify a common variant in CDHR3 associated with early childhood asthma with severe exacerbations. CDHR3 encodes a cell adhesion protein expressed at high levels in airway epithelium, suggesting a role for altered epithelial integrity in asthma pathogenesis.

Struan Grant and colleagues perform a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies to identify loci influencing childhood obesity. They discover variants near OLFM4 and HOXB5 associated with this trait and show that these loci are also associated with increased body mass index in adults.

Lavinia Paternoster and colleagues report the results of a large, multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of atopic dermatitis. They identify ten new susceptibility loci harboring candidate genes involved in innate host defense and T cell function.

M. Arfan Ikram and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for intracranial volume and brain volume. They report two loci associated with intracranial volume.

A large-scale multi-cohort association study reveals strong and consistent impacts of birth order on DNA methylation events around the genome, potentially due to changes in placentation, nutrition, and growth factors between first and subsequent pregnancies.

Qiao Fan et al. report a genome-wide association analysis of corneal curvature—an important measurement for identifying vision problems, such as myopia—in more than 45,000 individuals of either European or Asian ancestry. They identify 47 loci, 26 of which are novel, with some showing population-specific effects and pleiotropic effects on eye elongation and myopia.