scholarly journals The Value of Twins for Health and Medical Research: A Third of a Century of Progress

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Craig ◽  
Lucas Calais-Ferreira ◽  
Mark P. Umstad ◽  
Dedra Buchwald
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Genetic Contributions

AbstractIn 1984, Hrubec and Robinette published what was arguably the first review of the role of twins in medical research. The authors acknowledged a growing distinction between two categories of twin studies: those aimed at assessing genetic contributions to disease and those aimed at assessing environmental contributions while controlling for genetic variation. They concluded with a brief section on recently founded twin registries that had begun to provide unprecedented access to twins for medical research. Here we offer an overview of the twin research that, in our estimation, best represents the field has progress since 1984. We start by summarizing what we know about twinning. We then focus on the value of twin study designs to differentiate between genetic and environmental influences on health and on emerging applications of twins in multiple areas of medical research. We finish by describing how twin registries and networks are accelerating twin research worldwide.

scholarly journals WHY DO PEOPLE DIFFER IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION? A NUCLEAR TWIN FAMILY STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Klassen ◽  
Eike F. Eifler ◽  
Anke Hufer ◽  
Rainer Riemann
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Parental Home ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Home And School

Although many previous studies have emphasized the role of environmental factors, such as parental home and school environment, on achievement motivation, classical twin studies suggest that both additive genetic influences and non-shared environmental influences explain interindividual differences in achievement motivation. By applying a Nuclear Twin Family Design on the data of the German nationally representative of TwinLife study, we analyzed genetic and environmental influences on achievement motivation in adolescents and young adults. As expected, the results provided evidence for the impact of additive genetic variation, non-additive genetic influences, as well as twin specific shared environmental influences. The largest amount of variance was attributed to non-shared environmental influences, showing the importance of individual experiences in forming differences in achievement motivation. Overall, we suggest a revision of models and theories that explain variation in achievement motivation by differences in familial socialization only.

scholarly journals Protocol for a longitudinal twin birth cohort study to unravel the complex interplay between early-life environmental and genetic risk factors in health and disease: the Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS)

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e017889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Tong ◽  
Li Wen ◽  
Yinyin Xia ◽  
Pamela Leong ◽  
Lan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Intermediate Phenotypes ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases (NCD) now represent the major burden of adverse health in most countries. It is clear that much of the risk of such conditions begins very early in life, potentially in utero. Given their complex aetiology, an understanding of the origins of NCD requires an in-depth analysis of the interplay between genetic variation and environment, preferably over time. For decades, twin studies have played a key role in understanding such traits. Their strength lies in the ability to disentangle genetic and environmental factors that contribute to a phenotype. This is done by comparing genetically identical monozygotic (MZ) with dizygotic twins, who share on average 50% of genetic variation, or by comparing MZ twins within a pair. This study aims to determine the relative contributions of genes and environment to early-onset intermediate phenotypes related to later adult onset disease (such as growth and neurodevelopment) and to identify specific biomarkers and time points for emergence of phenotypes from infancy, largely independent of underlying genetic factors.Methods/designThe Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS) will recruit 300 women pregnant with twins, enriched for MZ pregnancies, with follow-up to 3 years of age. Data collection will be undertaken at key time points in gestation (×3), at delivery and postnatally (×9). Maternal and infant biospecimens including blood, urine, hair, nails and buccal swabs along with measures such as fetal scans and body measurements will be collected. Additional information from questionnaires and medical records includes pregnancy, diet, sociodemographics, maternal stress, and infant growth and neurodevelopment.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Chongqing Medical University (record no: 201530) and has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registry no: ChiCTR-OOC-16008203). Results of the recruitment and all subsequent analyses will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberChiCTR-OOC-16008203; Results.

scholarly journals A Twin Study of Cigarette and Snus Initiation and Quantity of Use in Norwegian Adult Twins

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-113
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
Steven H. Aggen ◽  
Nathan Gillespie ◽  
Nikolai Czajkowski ◽  
Eivind Ystrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Twin Models ◽  
Adult Twins

AbstractWhile snus has been the focus of increasing public health interest, twin studies have examined neither sources of individual variation for its use nor the sources of resemblance between snus and cigarette use. Twins from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Panel were assessed by self-report questionnaire for the initiation of regular use and maximal quantity used for snus and cigarettes. Twin modeling was performed using OpenMx on data from 2767 twins including 856 complete pairs. Fitting univariate twin models produced similar results for cigarette initiation and quantity with estimates of additive genetic, shared environmental and unique environmental effects of approximately 77%, 0% and 23%, respectively. Estimates of snus initiation and quantity were, respectively, approximately 53%, 26% and 21%. Joint analyses suggested that the genetic, shared environmental and unique environmental correlations between cigarette and snus initiation and quantity were +.82, 0 and +.42, respectively. However, these results could not be statistically distinguished from a model which postulated that resemblance between cigarette initiation and quantity resulted from genetic and unique environmental correlations of +.47 and +.43. Compared with cigarette initiation and quantity of use in Norwegian twins, the role of genes was less prominent and shared environment more prominent for initiation and quantity of use of snus. Joint analyses of both tobacco phenotypes suggested, but did not confirm definitively, that genetic risk factors for cigarette and snus use were similar but not identical, while shared environmental factors existed that were specific to snus use.

Concurrent Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis in Monozygous Twins Suffering from CNS Disorder

1973 ◽  
Vol 122 (571) ◽  
pp. 675-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert West
Keyword(s):  
Twin Study ◽  
Genetic Factor ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Identical Twin ◽  
Cerebral Dysfunction ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Monozygous Twins

Twin studies and investigations into the relationship between schizophrenia-like psychosis and cerebral dysfunction are of considerable interest. Refinement in twin studies has led to less emphasis being placed upon the genetic factor, but the pitfalls surrounding twin techniques, especially with regard to monozygous pairs and the similarity of their environment, have led Penrose (1971) to the opinion that twin study ‘is especially useful, not for genetical researches but in assessing the effects of environmental influences which lead to discordance in identical twin pairs'.

Sports Pairs: Insights on Athletic Talent; Research Reviews: Twins with Leukemia; Parents and Twins

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 528-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Segal
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Sports Activities ◽  
New Look

AbstractTwin research exploring genetic and environmental influences on athletic interests and talents is reviewed. Illustrative examples of twin athletes representing a variety of sports activities are presented. This is followed by an overview of twin studies offering critical insights into the onset and progress of leukemia. In the last section, timely events involving twins and parents of twins will be described — each case provides a new look at an old question.

Two Cohort and Three Independent Anonymous Twin Projects at the Keio Twin Research Center (KoTReC)

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 202-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juko Ando ◽  
Keiko K. Fujisawa ◽  
Chizuru Shikishima ◽  
Kai Hiraishi ◽  
Mari Nozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Genes And Environment

The Keio Twin Research Center has conducted two longitudinal twin cohort projects and has collected three independent and anonymous twin data sets for studies of phenotypes related to psychological, socio-economic, and mental health factors. The Keio Twin Study has examined adolescent and adult cohorts, with a total of over 2,400 pairs of twins and their parents. DNA samples are available for approximately 600 of these twin pairs. The Tokyo Twin Cohort Project has followed a total of 1,600 twin pairs from infancy to early childhood. The large-scale cross-sectional twin study (CROSS) has collected data from over 4,000 twin pairs, from 3 to 26 years of age, and from two high school twin cohorts containing a total of 1,000 pairs of twins. These data sets of anonymous twin studies have mainly targeted academic performance, attitude, and social environment. The present article introduces the research designs and major findings of our center, such as genetic structures of cognitive abilities, personality traits, and academic performances, developmental effects of genes and environment on attitude, socio-cognitive ability and parenting, genes x environment interaction on attitude and conduct problem, and statistical methodological challenges and so on. We discuss the challenges in conducting twin research in Japan.

scholarly journals Twin Research in the Post-Genomic Era: Dissecting the Pathophysiological Effects of Adversity and the Social Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Turner ◽  
Conchita D’Ambrosio ◽  
Claus Vögele ◽  
Martin Diewald
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Randomised Controlled

The role of twins in research is evolving as we move further into the post-genomic era. With the re-definition of what a gene is, it is becoming clear that biological family members who share a specific genetic variant may well not have a similar risk for future disease. This has somewhat invalidated the prior rationale for twin studies. Case co-twin study designs, however, are slowly emerging as the ideal tool to identify both environmentally induced epigenetic marks and epigenetic disease-associated processes. Here, we propose that twin lives are not as identical as commonly assumed and that the case co-twin study design can be used to investigate the effects of the adult social environment. We present the elements in the (social) environment that are likely to affect the epigenome and measures in which twins may diverge. Using data from the German TwinLife registry, we confirm divergence in both the events that occur and the salience for the individual start as early as age 11. Case co-twin studies allow for the exploitation of these divergences, permitting the investigation of the role of not only the adult social environment, but also the salience of an event or environment for the individual, in determining lifelong health trajectories. In cases like social adversity where it is clearly not possible to perform a randomised-controlled trial, we propose that the case co-twin study design is the most rigorous manner with which to investigate epigenetic mechanisms encoding environmental exposure. The role of the case co-twin design will continue to evolve, as we argue that it will permit causal inference from observational data.

scholarly journals Twins Research Australia: A New Paradigm for Driving Twin Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 438-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Murphy ◽  
Janine Lam ◽  
Tessa Cutler ◽  
Jess Tyler ◽  
Lucas Calais-Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Twin Studies ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Twin Research ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Health Domains ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Knowledge Translation And Exchange ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTwins Research Australia (TRA) is a community of twins and researchers working on health research to benefit everyone, including twins. TRA leads multidisciplinary research through the application of twin and family study designs, with the aim of sustaining long-term twin research that, both now and in the future, gives back to the community. This article summarizes TRA’s recent achievements and future directions, including new methodologies addressing causation, linkage to health, economic and educational administrative datasets and to geospatial data to provide insight into health and disease. We also explain how TRA’s knowledge translation and exchange activities are key to communicating the impact of twin studies to twins and the wider community. Building researcher capability, providing registry resources and partnering with all key stakeholders, particularly the participants, are important for how TRA is advancing twin research to improve health outcomes for society. TRA provides researchers with open access to its vibrant volunteer membership of twins, higher order multiples (multiples) and families who are willing to consider participation in research. Established four decades ago, this resource facilitates and supports research across multiple stages and a breadth of health domains.

Genetics of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) Axis - a Systemic Stress Modulator in Relation to Suicidal Behaviour

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
D. Wasserman ◽  
M. Sokolowski ◽  
J. Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Tyrosine Hydroxylase ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Adoption Studies ◽  
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal ◽  
Systemic Stress

Suicide, a phenomenon characterised by heterogeneous and complex causes affects about one million people each year.Twin studies, adoption studies and family studies indicate the role of genetic factors in suicidal behaviours. Psychobiological hypotheses regarding suicidal behaviours involve neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and their correlation to psychological functions as well as the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Whereas the genes of e.g. the 5HT system and of the key NA-biosynthesis enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase, have been studied extensively in this context the genes in the HPA axis have only begun to be investigated.Our novel results on the genetic variation in the CRHR1 gene in connection to depression and stress among suicidal individuals and in the TBX 19 gene, which is regulated by CRH, suggest that genetic variation in the CRH-mediated regulation of the HPA axis is a factor of importance in suicidality, especially in males with depression.

scholarly journals A genetic perspective on the proposed inclusion of cannabis withdrawal in DSM-5

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1713-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. H. Verweij ◽  
A. Agrawal ◽  
N. O. Nat ◽  
H. E. Creemers ◽  
A. C. Huizink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Cannabis Use Disorder ◽  
Cannabis Abuse ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Twin Model ◽  
Cannabis Withdrawal ◽  
Dsm Iv

BackgroundVarious studies support the inclusion of cannabis withdrawal in the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in the upcoming DSM-5. The aims of the current study were to (1) estimate the prevalence of DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal (criterion B), (2) estimate the role of genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in cannabis withdrawal and (3) determine the extent to which genetic and environmental influences on cannabis withdrawal overlap with those on DSM-IV-defined abuse/dependence.MethodThe sample included 2276 lifetime cannabis-using adult Australian twins. Cannabis withdrawal was defined in accordance with criterion B of the proposed DSM-5 revisions. Cannabis abuse/dependence was defined as endorsing one or more DSM-IV criteria of abuse or three or more dependence criteria. The classical twin model was used to estimate the genetic and environmental influences on variation in cannabis withdrawal, along with its covariation with abuse/dependence.ResultsOf all the cannabis users, 11.9% met criteria for cannabis withdrawal. Around 50% of between-individual variation in withdrawal could be attributed to additive genetic variation, and the rest of the variation was mostly due to non-shared environmental influences. Importantly, the genetic influences on cannabis withdrawal almost completely (99%) overlapped with those on abuse/dependence.ConclusionsWe have shown that cannabis withdrawal symptoms exist among cannabis users, and that cannabis withdrawal is moderately heritable. Genetic influences on cannabis withdrawal are the same as those affecting abuse/dependence. These results add to the wealth of literature that recommends the addition of cannabis withdrawal to the diagnosis of DSM-5 CUD.

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