Our GWAS meta-analysis of broad ASB in 85,359 individuals from population cohorts and those with a clinical diagnosis related to ASB, revealed one novel associated locus on chromosome 7 (7:114043159, rs12536335), residing in the forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) gene. The lead SNP is relatively proximal (~14 kb upstream) to an important enhancer region located 330 kb downstream of the first transcriptional start site (TSS1) of the gene [26]. This SNP is also in the vicinity (~8 kb upstream) of a second transcriptional start site (TSS2) of FOXP2 that can drive expression of alternative transcripts. The FOXP2 gene is expressed in sensory, limbic, and motor circuits of the brain, as well as the lungs, heart, and gut [26]. It encodes a transcription factor that acts as a regulator of numerous target genes and has been implicated in multiple aspects of brain development (e.g., neuronal growth, synaptic plasticity) [33]. FOXP2 was first identified two decades ago when rare heterozygous mutations of the gene were linked to a monogenic disorder involving speech motor deficits, accompanied by impairments in expressive and receptive language [34,
