GWASs reported numerous associations. Correction for multiple testing at genome-wide level (α=5×10−8) is highly necessary to reduce false positives. Furthermore, a true association is usually replicable in different samples; and thus replication in independent samples, especially in genetically-distinct samples, is also a reliable way to reduce false positives. In spite of these, a significant and replicable association does not necessarily reflect a true cause-result relationship. If a variant is functional, the possibility of a cause-result relationship will increase. In this work, we extensively reviewed the findings of GWASs published so far, to report the genome-wide significant and/or replicable risk genes for alcohol dependence with potential biological functions, which is highly necessary for the follow-up studies in the post-GWAS era.
