Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota delivers a methodical breakdown of Mendelian randomization studies, challenging the notion that genetic variants can serve as perfect proxies for lifelong randomized controlled trials. The Oxford-trained physician and researcher examines the "optimistic assumptions" underlying this popular research method, particularly the gene-environment equivalence assumption that genetic effects mirror the effects of actual interventions.
👉 Register at cosci.org for our coming CoSci 2026 at on March 13-15 in Las Vegas, NV. As with this presentation from 2025, you'll see great talks from Shawn Baker, Ken Berry Amber O'Hearn, Nick Norwitz, Bret Scher and many, many more.
🎗️And best of all – CoSci is a charity event to support the Citizen Science Foundation, a 501(c)3 Public Charity supporting low carb/keto research like our LMHR Study.
🫶 So you'll get to watch a great conference and support a good cause. Tickets start for as little as $25 – register now at cosci.org
Chapters
1:12 – Opening and conflict disclosure
3:49 – The nuance warning
6:05 – George Davey Smith introduction
9:23 – Poster study success cases
11:09 – Instrumental variables history
14:59 – Water availability example
17:31 – Gene-environment equivalence assumption
20:24 – Population vs individual effects
22:43 – PCSK9 pathway complications
25:37 – Why not randomized trials
28:00 – Context-dependent causation
30:10 – Evidence triangulation necessity
Don't forget to like this video, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more compelling presentations on health research and methodology!
Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota delivers a methodical breakdown of Mendelian randomization studies, challenging the notion that genetic variants can serve as perfect proxies for lifelong randomized controlled trials. The Oxford-trained physician and researcher examines the "optimistic assumptions" underlying this popular research method, particularly the gene-environment equivalence assumption that genetic effects mirror the effects of actual interventions.
👉 Register at cosci.org for our coming CoSci 2026 at on March 13-15 in Las Vegas, NV. As with this presentation from 2025, you'll see great talks from Shawn Baker, Ken Berry Amber O'Hearn, Nick Norwitz, Bret Scher and many, many more.
🎗️And best of all – CoSci is a charity event to support the Citizen Science Foundation, a 501(c)3 Public Charity supporting low carb/keto research like our LMHR Study.
🫶 So you'll get to watch a great conference and support a good cause. Tickets start for as little as $25 – register now at cosci.org
Chapters
1:12 – Opening and conflict disclosure
3:49 – The nuance warning
6:05 – George Davey Smith introduction
9:23 – Poster study success cases
11:09 – Instrumental variables history
14:59 – Water availability example
17:31 – Gene-environment equivalence assumption
20:24 – Population vs individual effects
22:43 – PCSK9 pathway complications
25:37 – Why not randomized trials
28:00 – Context-dependent causation
30:10 – Evidence triangulation necessity
Don't forget to like this video, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more compelling presentations on health research and methodology!
