Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Advanced Methods in Twin Studies

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Genetic Epidemiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 713))

Abstract

While twin studies have been used to estimate the heritability of different traits and disorders since the beginning of the twentieth century, statistical developments over the past 20 years and more extensive and systematic data collection have greatly expanded the scope of twin studies. This chapter reviews selected possibilities of twin study designs to address specific hypotheses regarding the role of both genetic and environmental factors in the development of traits and diseases. In addition to modelling latent genetic influences, current models permit inclusion of information on specific genetic variants, measured environmental factors and their interactive effects. Examples from studies of anthropometric traits are used to illustrate such approaches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Posthuma D, Beem AL, De Geus EJ, van Baal GC, von Hjelmborg JB, Iachine I et al. Theory and practice in quantitative genetics. Twin Res 2003; 6(5):361–376.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Silventoinen K, Kaprio J, Lahelma E, Koskenvuo M. Relative effect of genetic and environmental factors on body height: differences across birth cohorts among Finnish men and women. Am J Public Health 2000; 90(4):627–630.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Schousboe K, Willemsen G, Kyvik KO, Mortensen J, Boomsma DI, Cornes BK et al. Sex differences in heritability of BMI: a comparative study of results from twin studies in eight countries. Twin Res 2003; 6(5):409–421.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Suviolahti E, Oksanen LJ, Ohman M, Cantor RM, Ridderstrale M, Tuomi T et al. The SLC6A14 gene shows evidence of association with obesity. J Clin Invest 2003; 112(11):1762–1772.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Purcell S. Variance components models for gene-environment interaction in twin analysis. Twin Res 2002; 5(6):554–571.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Purcell S, Sham P. Variance components models for gene-environment interaction in quantitative trait locus linkage analysis. Twin Res 2002; 5(6):572–576.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mustelin L, Silventoinen K, Pietiläinen K, Rissanen A, Kaprio J. Physical activity reduces the influence of genetic effects on BMI and waist circumference: a study in young adult twins. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009; 33(1):29–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dick DM, Pagan JL, Viken R, Purcell S, Kaprio J, Pulkkinen L et al. Changing environmental influences on substance use across development. Twin Res Hum Genet 2007; 10(2):315–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dick DM, Viken R, Purcell S, Kaprio J, Pulkkinen L, Rose RJ. Parental monitoring moderates the importance of genetic and environmental influences on adolescent smoking. J Abnorm Psychol 2007; 116(1):213–218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Laitala V, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. Genetics of coffee consumption and its stability. Addiction 2008; 103(12):2054–2061.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Boomsma DI, Molenaar PCM. Constrained maximum likelihood analysis of familial resemblance of twins and their parents. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 1987; 36:29–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Silventoinen K, Pietiläinen KH, Tynelius P, Sorensen TI, Kaprio J, Rasmussen F. Genetic regulation of growth from birth to 18 years of age: the Swedish young male twins study. Am J Hum Biol 2008; 20(3):292–298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Neale MC, Mcardle JJ. Structured latent growth curves for twin data. Twin Res 2000; 3(3):165–177.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hjelmborg JB, Fagnani C, Silventoinen K, Mcgue M, Korkeila M, Christensen K et al. Genetic influences on growth traits of BMI: a longitudinal study of adult twins. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008; 16(4):847–852.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gesell A. The methods of co-twin control. Science 1942; 95(2470):446–448.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fisher RA. Cancer and smoking. Nature 1958; 182:596.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bruder CE, Piotrowski A, Gijsbers AA, Andersson R, Erickson S, de Stahl TD et al. Phenotypically concordant and discordant monozygotic twins display different DNA copy-number-variation profiles. Am J Hum Genet 2008; 82(3):763–771.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pietiläinen KH, Sysi-Aho M, Rissanen A, Seppanen-Laakso T, Yki-Järvinen H, Kaprio J et al. Acquired obesity is associated with changes in the serum lipidomic profile independent of genetic effects – a monozygotic twin study. PLoS One 2007; 2(2):e218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pietiläinen KH, Naukkarinen J, Rissanen A, Saharinen J, Ellonen P, Keränen H et al. Global transcript profiles of fat in monozygotic twins discordant for BMI: pathways behind acquired obesity. PLoS Med 2008; 5(3):e51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bouchard C, Tremblay A, Desprès JP, Nadeau A, Lupien PJ, Thèriault G et al. The response to long-term overfeeding in identical twins. N Engl J Med 1990; 322:1477–1482.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Pietiläinen KH, Rissanen A, Laamanen M, Lindholm AK, Markkula H, Yki-Jarvinen H et al. Growth patterns in young adult monozygotic twin pairs discordant and concordant for obesity. Twin Res 2004; 7(5):421–429.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Pietiläinen KH, Kaprio J, Borg P, Plasqui G, Yki-Järvinen H, Kujala UM et al. Physical inactivity and obesity: a vicious circle. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008; 16(2):409–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hill JO, Wyatt HR. Role of physical activity in preventing and treating obesity. J Appl Physiol 2005; 99(2):765–770.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wisloff U, Najjar SM, Ellingsen O, Haram PM, Swoap S, Al Share Q et al. Cardiovascular risk factors emerge after artificial selection for low aerobic capacity. Science 2005; 307(5708):418–420.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Fraga MF, Ballestar E, Paz MF, Ropero S, Setien F, Ballestar ML et al. Epigenetic differences arise during the lifetime of monozygotic twins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005; 102(30):10604–10609.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tsankova NM, Berton O, Renthal W, Kumar A, Neve RL, Nestler EJ. Sustained hippocampal chromatin regulation in a mouse model of depression and antidepressant action. Nat Neurosci 2006; 9(4):519–525.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gottesman II, Bertelsen A. Confirming unexpressed genotypes for schizophrenia. Risks in the offspring of Fischer’s Danish identical and fraternal discordant twins. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989; 46(10):867–872.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. D’Onofrio BM, Turkheimer EN, Eaves LJ, Corey LA, Berg K, Solaas MH et al. The role of the children of twins design in elucidating causal relations between parent characteristics and child outcomes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2003; 44(8):1130–1144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Berg K. Variability gene effect on cholesterol at the Kidd blood group locus. Clin Genet 1988; 33:102–107.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Leskela P, Ukkola O, Vartiainen J, Rönnemaa T, Kaprio J, Bouchard C et al. Fasting plasma total ghrelin concentrations in monozygotic twins discordant for obesity. Metabolism 2009; 58(2):174–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Boomsma D, Busjahn A, Peltonen L. Classical twin studies and beyond. Nat Rev Genet 2002; 3(11):872–882.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki & National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

    Jaakko Kaprio

  2. Departments of Sociology and Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Karri Silventoinen

Authors
  1. Jaakko Kaprio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karri Silventoinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Related Research, Health Services Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Street 30, Sheffield, S1 4DA, United Kingdom

    M. Dawn Teare

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Kaprio, J., Silventoinen, K. (2011). Advanced Methods in Twin Studies. In: Teare, M. (eds) Genetic Epidemiology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 713. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-416-6_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-416-6_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-415-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-416-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation