rs698195: Genetic Variation and Allergic Rhinitis Risk
The rs698195 single nucleotide polymorphism is an intergenic genetic variant located on chromosome 7q31.1. In genome-wide association studies, it has shown modest statistical associations with physician-diagnosed allergic conditions, most notably allergic rhinitis. Because it resides outside protein-coding regions and exhibits modest effect sizes, evidence regarding its direct functional role remains limited.
What each genotype means
Typical allergic rhinitis risk
You carry two copies of the common G allele at this intergenic region on chromosome 7. Genome-wide association research has not found an increased risk of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis or related allergic conditions associated with this baseline genotype. Because this variant is located in a non-coding region with limited functional evidence, it only confers a modest statistical baseline rather than certainty.
Found in approximately 50% to 55% of individuals of European ancestry and roughly 60% to 65% of individuals of East Asian ancestry.
Slightly increased allergic rhinitis likelihood
You carry one copy of the A risk allele and one copy of the G allele. Published genome-wide association studies have linked the A allele to a modest statistical increase in physician-diagnosed allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis. However, evidence remains limited and allergic conditions are influenced by many complex genetic and environmental triggers.
Carried by roughly 35% to 40% of people of European ancestry and about 30% to 35% of people of East Asian ancestry.
Moderately higher allergic rhinitis likelihood
You carry two copies of the A risk allele at this locus. In population-level studies, carrying two copies of this allele has been associated with a slightly higher relative likelihood of physician-diagnosed allergic conditions, including allergic rhinitis, compared to non-carriers. Given that this is an intergenic variant with limited functional characterization, carrying these alleles does not guarantee allergy development.
Carried by approximately 7% to 9% of individuals of European ancestry and about 3% to 5% of individuals of East Asian ancestry.
Genomic Location and Variant Context
The single nucleotide polymorphism rs698195 is located on the long arm of human chromosome 7 at cytogenetic band 7q31.1. In modern genomic databases such as dbSNP, it is documented as an intergenic transition variant typically characterized by an exchange between cytosine (C) and thymine (T) alleles. Because it lies within a non-coding intergenic region rather than inside the open reading frame of a specific protein, rs698195 does not alter an amino acid sequence directly. Researchers evaluate variants like rs698195 for their potential roles in regulatory functions, such as influencing distal enhancers, silencers, chromatin architecture, or acting as genetic tags in linkage disequilibrium with other functional variants nearby.
Nearby Biological Pathways and Rhinitis Research
Although rs698195 is strictly intergenic, chromosome band 7q31.1 has drawn scientific interest because it falls within a wider genomic neighborhood that has shown associations with respiratory and inflammatory phenotypes, including chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic airway susceptibility. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigating pediatric and adult allergic rhinitis have identified signals in this chromosomal band alongside well-established immune hubs such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and cytokine signaling clusters. Researchers hypothesize that intergenic markers like rs698195 may reside within non-coding regulatory elements that modulate the expression of neighboring genes involved in mucosal barrier integrity or T-helper 2 (Th2) immune cell differentiation.
Strength of Scientific Evidence and GWAS Findings
The clinical and epidemiological evidence linking rs698195 to allergic conditions is currently classified as limited. In large-scale population cohorts, including analyses in East Asian populations such as Korean allergy cohorts and multi-ancestry association scans, the variant has been correlated with self-reported or physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis. However, like many common non-coding variants identified through GWAS, rs698195 demonstrates very small odds ratios, typically hovering near modest effect sizes that explain only a tiny fraction of total phenotypic heritability. Because the statistical association has not consistently met stringent biological validation or functional replication across all independent ancestry cohorts, it serves primarily as a research marker rather than a definitive predictor of allergic disease.
Ancestry and Global Population Frequency
Population frequency data from the 1000 Genomes Project and the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) show that rs698195 is a common polymorphism worldwide, though its minor allele frequency exhibits meaningful variation across ancestral backgrounds. In East Asian populations, the minor allele frequency is approximately 0.20, whereas in populations of European ancestry, it is observed at roughly 0.28. Because both the reference and alternate alleles are widely distributed across healthy continental groups, neither genotype is rare or indicative of a severe Mendelian disorder. This broad distribution underlines that carrying the associated allele is a normal human variation seen across millions of unaffected individuals.
Interpretation and Clinical Limitations
It is essential to understand what personal genotype data for rs698195 can and cannot tell you. Having an allergy-associated allele does not diagnose allergic rhinitis, asthma, or any other atopic condition, nor does carrying the alternative allele guarantee protection against environmental allergies. Allergic diseases are complex and polygenic, arising from the cumulative effects of hundreds of genetic loci interacting with environmental factors such as pollen exposure, air pollution, early-life microbial encounters, and lifestyle. Genetic markers like rs698195 should never be used as a basis to begin, alter, or discontinue any allergy medications, antihistamines, or immunotherapies. Clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions remain firmly in the domain of certified allergists and medical providers.
How common is this variant?
The minor allele frequency for rs698195 is approximately 0.20 in East Asian populations and approximately 0.28 in European populations according to 1000 Genomes and gnomAD datasets.
Frequently asked questions
Can testing rs698195 diagnose whether I have seasonal allergies?
No. The rs698195 variant is an observational research marker identified through population-wide association studies and does not have the diagnostic power to determine if an individual has seasonal allergies. Allergic conditions are diagnosed clinically by medical providers using patient history, physical examinations, and formal allergy testing.
Does having the risk allele mean I will definitely develop allergic rhinitis?
No. Carrying the associated allele represents only a very small statistical correlation and is not deterministic. Environmental exposures, lifestyle, and hundreds of other genetic factors collectively determine whether an individual actually experiences allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Should I change my allergy medications based on my rs698195 result?
No. The rs698195 locus is not a pharmacogenomic marker and provides no clinically actionable information regarding how you metabolize or respond to allergy medications. Any decisions regarding antihistamines, nasal sprays, or immunotherapy should be discussed directly with your physician or pharmacist.
Why is rs698195 considered an intergenic variant?
An intergenic variant sits in the non-coding DNA spaces located between defined genes on a chromosome. Because it does not fall inside a gene's coding sequence, it does not alter protein structures directly, though researchers study whether it may influence distant gene regulation.
Sources & further reading
Educational information only, last refreshed 9/12/2026. Not medical advice — these associations describe population statistics, not individual predictions.
Curious what your genotype is for rs698195?
Upload a raw DNA file from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA and see this variant — plus thousands more — interpreted in your full report.
Get my report — $29Related variants in MYC
This variant is a well-established risk factor for colorectal and prostate cancer susceptibility.
Non-coding variant in the 8q24 region near MYC associated with increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancers.
This non-coding variant on chromosome 8q24 near the MYC proto-oncogene is significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to bladder cancer.
This variant is located in a gene desert near the MYC oncogene and is associated with an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancers.