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Genetic Variance and Heritability of Temperament Among Chinese Twin Infants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

C.J. Chen*
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
M.W. Yu
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
C.J. Wang
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
S.L. Tong
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
M. Tien
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
T.Y. Lee
Affiliation:
National Taiwan University Hospital, , Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
H.C. Lue
Affiliation:
National Taiwan University Hospital, , Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
F.Y. Huang
Affiliation:
Mckay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
C.C. Lan
Affiliation:
Mckay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
K.H. Yang
Affiliation:
Taipei Municipal Maternal and Child Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
H.C. Wang
Affiliation:
Taipei Municipal Maternal and Child Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
H.Y. Shih
Affiliation:
National Nursing School Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
C.Y. Liu
Affiliation:
National Nursing School Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
J.S. Chen
Affiliation:
National Taiwan University Hospital, , Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
*
Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 1 Jen-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10018, Taiwan, Republic of China

Abstract

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In order to examine the genetic variance and heritability of temperament among Chinese infants in Taiwan, a total of 62 pairs of same-sexed twin infants given birth in four major general teaching hospitals in Taipei City were studied. Based on placentation and 12 red blood cell antigens, 44 MZ and 18 DZ pairs were identified. Temperament was assessed at the age of six months by the Chinese edition of Carey's Temperament scale. Significant genetic variance was observed for activity level, approach or withdrawal, intensity of reaction, quality of mood, and threshold of responsiveness, with a heritability of 0.64, 0.56, 0.74, 0.39, and 0.45, respectively. There was no significant intrapair difference in temperamental characteristics between monochorionic and dichorionic MZ twins.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1990

References

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