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.

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.

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 Corneal fluorescence in relation to genetic and environmental factors: a twin study

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 508-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Kessel ◽  
Jesper Leth Hougaard ◽  
Kirsten Ohm Kyvik ◽  
Birgit Sander ◽  
Thorkild I. A. Sørensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Muscle Dissatisfaction and Muscle-Enhancing Substance Use: A Population-Based Twin Study in Young Adult Men

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Raevuori ◽  
Anna Keski-Rahkonen ◽  
Richard J. Rose ◽  
Aila Rissanen ◽  
Jaakko Kaprio
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Tetrachoric Correlation ◽  
Polychoric Correlation ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Best Fit

AbstractIn the population-based FinnTwin16 study, proportions of genetic and environmental factors contributing to muscle dissatisfaction and muscle-enhancing substance use were assessed in 319 pairs of twin brothers: 141 monozygotic (MZ) and 178 dizygotic (DZ) pairs. In addition there were 86 twin individuals from pairs in which only one co-twin responded. Of all respondents, 30% experienced high muscle dissatisfaction. The corresponding proportion of muscle-enhancing substance use was 10%. The subjects were similar in age (23.8 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23.76–23.84), body mass index (23.7, 95% CI 23.5–23.9), and waist circumference (84.5 cm, 95% CI 83.7–85.2), independent of their muscle dissatisfaction or muscle-enhancing substance use status and independent of their zygosity. The MZ polychoric correlation for muscle dissatisfaction was .39 (95% CI .17–.58) and .27 for DZ pairs (95% CI .07–.46). The MZ tetrachoric correlation for muscle-enhancing substance use was .65 (95% CI .28–.87) and .56 for DZ pairs (95% CI .26–.78). The AE model, where additive genetic factors (A) accounted for 42% (95% CI .23–.59) and unique environmental factors (E) 58% (95% CI .41–.77) of the liability, provided the best fit for muscle dissatisfaction. The CE model, where common environmental factors (C) accounted for 60% (95% CI .37–.77) and unique environmental factors (E) 40% (95% CI .23–.63) of the liability, provided the best fit for muscle-enhancing substance use. Both genetic and unique (nonfamilial) environmental factors are involved in muscle dissatisfaction in the population. Nongenetic factors (both familial and non-familial) appear to best explain the use of muscle-enhancing substances.

scholarly journals Modeling Genetic and Environmental Factors to Increase Heritability and Ease the Identification of Candidate Genes for Birth Weight: A Twin Study

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gielen ◽  
P. J. Lindsey ◽  
C. Derom ◽  
H. J. M. Smeets ◽  
N. Y. Souren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Genetic and Cultural Transmission of Antisocial Behavior: An Extended Twin Parent Model

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermine H. Maes ◽  
Judy L. Silberg ◽  
Michael C. Neale ◽  
Lindon J. Eaves
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Cultural Transmission ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Simultaneous Estimation ◽  
Adoption Studies ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

AbstractConsiderable evidence from twin and adoption studies indicates that both genetic and shared environmental factors play a substantial role in the liability to antisocial behavior. Although twin and adoption designs can resolve genetic and environmental influences, they do not provide information about assortative mating, parent–offspring transmission, or the contribution of these factors to trait variation. We examined the role of genetic and environmental factors for conduct disorder (CD) using a twin–parent design. This design allows the simultaneous estimation of additive genetic, shared and individual-specific environmental effects, as well as sex differences in the expression of genes and environment in the presence of assortative mating and combined genetic and cultural transmission. A retrospective measure of CD was obtained from twins and their parents or guardians in the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavior Development and its Young Adult Follow up sample. Both genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in the liability to CD. Major influences on individual differences appeared to be additive genetic (38%–40%) and unique environmental (39%–42%) effects, with smaller contributions from the shared environment (18%–23%), assortative mating (~2%), cultural transmission (~2%) and resulting genotype-environment covariance. This study showed significant heritability, which is slightly increased by assortative mating, and significant effects of primarily nonparental shared environment on CD.

Complex genetic and environmental relationships between psychological distress, fatigue and immune functioning: a twin study

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. HICKIE ◽  
B. BENNETT ◽  
A. LLOYD ◽  
A. HEATH ◽  
N. MARTIN
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Familial Aggregation ◽  
Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ◽  
Immune Responsiveness ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Skin Response ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Background. Although there is considerable support for adverse relationships between states of psychological and somatic distress and immune response, there is little evidence in humans of the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors.Methods. This study utilized a twin methodology to examine the interplay between psychological distress, fatigue and immune function. We recorded a number of measures of distress, including conventional depression and anxiety as well as the somatic symptom of prolonged fatigue, and immune responsiveness (by delayed-type hypersensitivity skin response) in 124 normal adult twin pairs (79 monozygotic, 45 dizygotic).Results. While there were strong genetic influences on the psychological distress and fatigue factors (only some of which are common to both), familial aggregation of immune responsiveness arose mainly from environmental factors shared by both members of a twin pair. Phenotypic correlations between psychological and immune measures were negligible, but multivariate genetic modelling revealed that these masked larger genetic and environmental correlations of opposite sign. Negative environmental effects of psychological distress and fatigue on immune responsiveness were countered by a positive genetic relationship between psychological distress and immune function.Conclusions. Our study suggests that current psychoneuroimmunological hypotheses in humans need to be modified to place increasing importance on the individual's genotype. In this cohort immune responsiveness varied in response to a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Additionally, although psychological distress and fatigue had some shared genetic determinants, independent genetic and environmental risk factors for fatigue were also identified.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document