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The Current Status of Weinberg's Differential Rule

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

W.H. James
W.H. James*
Affiliation:
MRC Mammalian Development Unit, University College, London, UK
*
MRC Mammalian Development Unit, Wolfson House, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HE, UK

Abstract

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A reanalysis of the data presented in a recent large twin study suggests that opposite-sexed (OS) pairs may be not as exhaustively tested as same-sexed (SS) pairs on genetic markers. This is contrary to an assumption I made in estimating that there are about 8 SS dizygotic pairs to every 7 OS pairs (thus impugning Weinberg's differential rule). If this assumption is false also in regard to the samples I discussed, then that estimate is unsound and Weinberg's rule is unscathed by empirical data. However, regardless of such considerations, there are strong theoretical reasons for questioning the status of Weinberg's rule. It is based on two assumptions, namely that p (the probability that a dizygotic twin zygote is male) is equal and independent for all dizygotic twin zygotes. Data are adduced here to suggest that both assumptions are false. The upshot is that, at present, without testing, we cannot know, of any given population, whether the rule holds or not. Otherwise, though Weinberg's rule may be useful (like Hellin's law) as a rule-of-thumb, it cannot be assumed as a basis for serious scientific argument.

Keywords

Weinberg's ruleTwinningSex combination
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , January 1992 , pp. 33 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1992

References

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