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Birthweight Differences, The Transfusion Syndrome and The Cognitive Development of Monozygotic Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

P.J. O'Brien  and
D.A. Hay
P.J. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
D.A. Hay*
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
*
Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia

Abstract

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Monochorionic twins may differ from dichorionic monozygotic (MZ) twins because of the transfusion syndrome and the timing of the cleavage of the zygote. Intrapair birthweight differences may be an indicator of these intrauterine variables. Previous evidence concerning weight differences and intellectual ability in MZ twins is reviewed with recommendations that future research also incorporates full placental data. Poorer scores on a nonverbal test are found for the lighter male twin of pairs with large intrapair differences in birthweight. Co-twin concordance rates for test scores are also highest for this group indicating that they vary consistently from other groups. Some evidence is presented from the present and earlier studies implicating anomalies of asymmetry or the transfusion syndrome as possible causes of these differences in brain functioning. The study adds further doubts as to the validity of any assumption of developmental equivalence between MZ twins and the general population.

Keywords

BirthweightFeto-fetal transfusionMonochorionic twinsCognitive development
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 181 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1987

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