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Articles on Causation

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Statistical pitfalls in GWAS can result in misleading conclusions about whether some traits (like long horns or spotted skin, in the case of dinosaurs) are genetically linked. @meanymoo

People don’t mate randomly – but the flawed assumption that they do is an essential part of many studies linking genes to diseases and traits

People don’t randomly select who they have children with. And that means an underlying assumption in research that tries to link particular genes to certain diseases or traits is wrong.
If what you’re reading seems too good to be true, it just might be. Mark Hang Fung So/Unsplash

6 tips to help you detect fake science news

Whenever you hear about a new bit of science news, these suggestions will help you assess whether it’s more fact or fiction.
The new study still finds that reducing unprocessed red meat consumption by three servings in a week is associated with an an approximately eight per cent lower lifetime risk of heart disease, cancer and early death. (Shutterstock)

Should I eat red meat? Confusing studies diminish trust in nutrition science

New research claiming that people do not need to reduce their consumption of red and processed meat says more about the conduct and evaluation of research than it does about beef.
If you’re depressed, the headlines might tempt you to reach out for a chocolate bar. But don’t believe the hype. from www.shutterstock.com

No, eating chocolate won’t cure depression

Depression is a serious, common and sometimes debilitating condition. And no, chocolate won’t help, whatever the headlines tell you.
An example of unidirectional cause and effect: bad weather means umbrella sales rise, but buying umbrellas won’t make it rain. Mariusz Olszewski/Flickr

Clearing up confusion between correlation and causation

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH: What do we actually mean by research and how does it help inform our understanding of things? Today we look at the dangers of making a link between unrelated results. Here’s an…

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