The etiologic role of genetic and environmental factors in criminal behavior as determined from full- and half-sibling pairs: an evaluation of the validity of the twin method

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1873-1880 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
S. L. Lönn ◽  
H. H. Maes ◽  
J. Sundquist ◽  
K. Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Complex Disorders ◽  
Twin Method ◽  
Heritability Estimates ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

BackgroundTwin studies have shown that criminal behavior (CB) is influenced by both genetic and shared environmental factors. Could these results be replicated using full-siblings and half-siblings?MethodIn 911 009 full-siblings reared together (FSRT), 41 872 half-siblings reared together (HSRT) and 52 590 half-siblings reared apart (HSRA), CB was assessed from the Swedish Crime Register. Modeling, including testing for age differences and rearing status, was performed using the OpenMx package.ResultsFive sibling models were fitted examining FSRT and HSRT 0–2 years different in age, and both FSRT and HSRT, and FSRT, HSRT and HSRA 0–10 years different in age with and without a specified shared environment indexing age differences. Heritability estimates for CB ranged from 33 to 55% in females and 39 to 56% in males, similar to those found in our prior twin study on the same population. Estimates for the shared environment varied from 1 to 14% in females and 10 to 23% in males, lower than those estimated in the twin study. The specified shared environment indexed by sibling age differences was significant in all models tested.ConclusionsHeritability estimates for CB from full- and half-siblings closely approximated those found from twins in the same population, validating the twin method. Shared environmental estimates were lower, suggesting the presence of shared environmental factors for CB specific to twins. When rearing status can be assessed, full- and half-siblings offer an additional method for assessing the role of genetic and environmental factors in complex disorders. However, age differences in siblings may need to be included in the models.

Exploring Genetic and Environmental Influences on Miscarriage Rates: A Twin Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea V. Burri ◽  
Lynn Cherkas ◽  
Timothy D. Spector
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Genetic Influence ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Pair Correlations ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Common Variable

AbstractMiscarriage is the most common type of pregnancy loss, occurring in up to 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Our understanding of the etiology is still limited but is believed to be multifactorial, including endocrine and anatomical abnormalities, immunologic, genetic and lifestyle factors. The aim of this study was to explore whether genetic variability in miscarriage is under any genetic influence. 3234 MZ and DZ female twins completed postal self-completion questionnaires on pregnancies. Rates were adjusted for total number of pregnancies. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variation in miscarriage was assessed using twin intra-pair correlations and quantified using a variance components model fitting approach. We found 22.7% of our twins reporting having suffered at least one miscarriage. Current age, age at first pregnancy and higher number of pregnancies all had a significant influence on reported miscarriage. The concordance of miscarriage was similar in identical and non-identical twins, 26% and 27%, respectively. Shared environment and predominantly random error and unique environment rather than genetic factors best explained the total variation of miscarriage. To our knowledge, this is the first large twin study exploring heritability of miscarriage which unlike the vast majority of common variable traits, shows no significant genetic influence. In the absence of clear environmental factors, these results suggest the influence of random factors.

scholarly journals Genetic and environmental factors in the determination of general cognitive abilities: a twin study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-176
Author(s):  
Annu ◽  
Bimla Dhanda
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Monozygotic Twins ◽  
Heritability Estimate ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Heritability Estimates ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The present investigation of twin study elucidated the contribution of genetic and environment to a wide range of general cognitive abilities. To conduct twin study 100 pairs of twins from two districts, namely: Bhiwani (n = 90) and Hisar (n = 110) of Haryana State, genetic and environmental influences were assessed in twin study design. The cognitive abilities of twins were measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R). Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory was taken to examine the home environment of twins. Heritability estimate was used to analyze the genes contributing to shape the cognitive abilities of twins. The result of heritability estimates revealed that the heritability estimates of general cognitive abilities namely: information (62%), similarities (57%), vocabulary (60%) and comprehension (55%) in Bhiwani district and in Hisar district, the heritability estimates were 58 per cent, 55 per cent, 56 per cent and 51 per cent for information, similarities, vocabulary and comprehension general cognitive abilities, respectively. The findings clearly elucidated that the general cognitive abilities were more influenced by genetic background than the environmental factors. The paternal involvement and physical environment were strongly associated with general cognitive abilities of twins. The monozygotic twins were more correlated in their general cognitive abilities than the dizygotic twins.

A Swedish national twin study of criminal behavior and its violent, white-collar and property subtypes

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 2253-2262 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
H. H. Maes ◽  
S. L. Lönn ◽  
N. A. Morris ◽  
P. Lichtenstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Familial Aggregation ◽  
Property Crime ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Criminal Convictions ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

BackgroundWe sought to clarify the etiological contribution of genetic and environmental factors to total criminal behavior (CB) measured as criminal convictions in men and women, and to violent (VCB), white-collar (WCCB) and property criminal behavior (PCB) in men only.MethodIn 21 603 twin pairs from the Swedish Twin Registry, we obtained information on all criminal convictions from 1973 to 2011 from the Swedish Crime Register. Twin modeling was performed using the OpenMx package.ResultsFor all criminal convictions, heritability was estimated at around 45% in both sexes, with the shared environment accounting for 18% of the variance in liability in females and 27% in males. The correlation of these risk factors across sexes was estimated at +0.63. In men, the magnitudes of genetic and environmental influence were similar in the three criminal conviction subtypes. However, for violent and white-collar convictions, nearly half and one-third of the genetic effects were respectively unique to that criminal subtype. About half of the familial environmental effects were unique to property convictions.ConclusionsThe familial aggregation of officially recorded CB is substantial and results from both genetic and familial environmental factors. These factors are moderately correlated across the sexes suggesting that some genetic and environmental influences on criminal convictions are unique to men and to women. Violent criminal behavior and property crime are substantially influenced respectively by genetic and shared environmental risk factors unique to that criminal subtype.

A twin study of antisocial and neurotic symptoms in childhood

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1111-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Thapar ◽  
Peter McGuffin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Variance Explained

SynopsisThere is some evidence to suggest that the role of genetic and environmental influences may vary for different types of psychiatric symptoms in childhood. The aim of this study was to examine to what extent genetic and environmental factors influence parent-rated conduct and neurotic symptoms in childhood and adolescence, using data obtained from a systematically ascertained sample of twins (198 same sex pairs) aged between 8 and 16 years. For symptoms of antisocial behaviour, transmission could be explained entirely by shared environmental factors. Social class effects were also found to have a significant influence on antisocial behaviour, although these effects only accounted for a small proportion of the variance explained by shared environmental factors. In contrast, transmission of neurotic symptoms was best explained by additive genetic influences alone with no contribution from shared environment. Non-shared environmental factors accounted for a substantial component of the variation for both antisocial behaviour and neurotic symptoms.

The Association Between Chronic Disease and Psychological Distress: An Australian Twin Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 322-329
Author(s):  
Jessica Tyler ◽  
Janine Lam ◽  
Katrina Scurrah ◽  
Gillian Dite
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Distress Scale

AbstractThere is a commonly observed association between chronic disease and psychological distress, but many potential factors could confound this association. This study investigated the association using a powerful twin study design that can control for unmeasured confounders that are shared between twins, including genetic and environmental factors. We used twin-paired cross-sectional data from the Adult Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire collected by Twins Research Australia from 2014 to 2017. Linear regression models fitted using maximum likelihood estimations (MLE) were used to test the association between self-reported chronic disease status and psychological distress, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). When comparing between twin pairs, having any chronic disease was associated with a 1.29 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.66; p < .001). When comparing twins within a pair, having any chronic disease was associated with a 0.36 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.71; p = .049). This within-pair estimate is of most interest as comparing twins within a pair naturally controls for shared factors such as genes, age and shared lived experiences. Whereas the between-pair estimate does not. The weaker effect found within pairs tells us that genetic and environmental factors shared between twins confounds the relationship between chronic disease and psychological distress. This suggests that associations found in unrelated samples may show exaggerated estimates.

Exploring the association between genetic and environmental factors and molar incisor hypomineralization: evidence from a twin study

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael José Pio Barbosa Teixeira ◽  
Natália Silva Andrade ◽  
Lisanca Carvalho Cavalcante Queiroz ◽  
Fausto Medeiros Mendes ◽  
Marcoeli Silva Moura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Molar Incisor Hypomineralization ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Influences on Smoking Behavior across Adolescence and Young Adulthood in the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development and the Transitions to Substance Abuse Follow-Up

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K. Do ◽  
Elizabeth C. Prom-Wormley ◽  
Lindon J. Eaves ◽  
Judy L. Silberg ◽  
Donna R. Miles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Smoking Initiation ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
The Relationship

Little is known regarding the underlying relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked during adolescence into young adulthood. It is possible that the influences of genetic and environmental factors on this relationship vary across sex and age. To investigate this further, the current study applied a common causal contingency model to data from a Virginia-based twin study to determine: (1) if the same genetic and environmental factors are contributing to smoking initiation and current quantity smoked; (2) whether the magnitude of genetic and environmental factor contributions are the same across adolescence and young adulthood; and (3) if qualitative and quantitative differences in the sources of variance between males and females exist. Study results found no qualitative or quantitative sex differences in the relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked, though relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors changed across adolescence and young adulthood. More specifically, smoking initiation and current quantity smoked remain separate constructs until young adulthood, when liabilities are correlated. Smoking initiation is explained by genetic, shared, and unique environmental factors in early adolescence and by genetic and unique environmental factors in young adulthood; while current quantity smoked is explained by shared environmental and unique environmental factors until young adulthood, when genetic and unique environmental factors play a larger role.

scholarly journals An Unusual Case of “Conjugal” Polymyalgia Rheumatica after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Rheumato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Elena Vanni ◽  
Jacopo Ciaffi ◽  
Luana Mancarella ◽  
Francesco Ursini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Asia Syndrome ◽  
Causative Effect ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The rare occurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in married couples has been reported in the literature. Susceptibility to PMR is contributed by genetic and environmental factors and cases of PMR developing after influenza vaccine have also been described, in a debated phenomenon known as ‘ASIA’ syndrome. We report the case of two cohabitating married patients developing PMR few weeks after the first dose of ChAdOx1-S SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Both patients presented with typical symptoms suggestive of PMR. Laboratory findings and ultrasound examination confirmed the diagnosis. Glucocorticoid therapy led to rapid improvment of symptoms. Anti-receptor-binding domain IgG titre was tested and, eight weeks after vaccination, both patients showed no antibody response. It has been suggested that vaccines might trigger autoimmune or inflammatory states in predisposed individuals and various hypotheses have been made regarding the pathogenesis of PMR. Although the causative effect of vaccines cannot be determined, the close temporal correlation observed in our case supports the potential role of environmental factors in triggering the onset of PMR. However, the literature indicates that post-COVID19 vaccination immune-mediated or inflammatory adverse events are extremely rare and vaccination should be encouraged since the benefit largely outweighs possible risks.

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