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A Model for the Analysis of Mate Selection in the Marriages of Twins Application to Data on Stature*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

W. E. Nance*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
L. A. Corey
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
L. J. Eaves
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Oxford University
*
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23298

Abstract

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Analysis of the multiple correlations in body height within a sample of 117 monozygotic twin pairs and their spouses confirmed the existence of a high degree of assortative mating. However, the data also revealed an underlying asymmetry in the mate selection process. With respect to height, male twins were more selective than were members of female pairs, and among male twin pairs, those who were intermediate in height appeared to make the greatest contribution to the observed pattern of nonrandom mating. Because of their magnitude and potential asymmetry, the effects of phenotypic correlations between the spouses of related individuals must be correctly specified in any rigorous quantitative genetic analysis that extends beyond the nuclear family unit.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1980

Footnotes

*

This is paper no. 99 from the Department of Human Genetics of the Medical College of Virginia and was supported in part by USPHS grants HD-10291 and GM-21045.

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