Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T11:17:52.602Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Twin Studies in Medical Genetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

P. Propping  and
F. Vogel
P. Propping*
Affiliation:
Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, German Federal Republic
F. Vogel
Affiliation:
Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, German Federal Republic
*
Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, D-69 Heidelberg, German Federal Republic

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

It is the aim of twin studies to obtain results which are not only valid for twins, but apply to the whole population. Therefore the following questions have to be answered first: do twins differ from non-twins in the trait under study? Do different nongenetic factors act upon MZ and DZ twins which alter the probability of manifestation of a trait, even before birth? There are important differences in embryogenesis and placental blood flow in mono- and dichorionic twins; this can influence the normal fetal development. Therefore the value of twin studies alone in analysing the genetic component in the etiology of congenital malformations is rather ambiguous. Twin studies beyond the newborn period can be classified into four approaches: (1) Case reports; (2) Accumulated case reports; (3) Limited representative sample; (4) Unlimited representative sample. The most frequent systematic method in medical genetics is the establishment of all twins in a defined population of probands (3). Another successful application in the last few years has been in pharmacogenetics. Although no simple mode of inheritance could be discovered, it was possible to estimate the genetic component within the interindividual variability of the metabolism of certain drugs (nortriptyline, antipyrine, phenylbutazone, ethanol). Now, additional non-twin research is needed to work out single factors within the observed polygenic systems.

Type
Twin Studies in Medical and Clinical Genetics
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , January 1976 , pp. 249 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1976

References

REFERENCES

Alexanderson, B., Evans, D.A.P., Sjöqvist, F. 1969. Steady state plasma level of nortriptyline in twins: influence of genetic factors and drug therapy. Br. Med. J., 4: 764–768.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Benirschke, K., Kim, C.K. 1973. Multiple pregnancy. N. Engl. J. Med., 288: 1276-1284, 1329–1336.Google Scholar
Bönicke, R., Lisboa, B.P. 1957. Ueber die Erbbedingtheit der intraindividuellen Konstanz der Isoniazidausscheidung. Naturwissenschaften, 44: 314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chakravartti, M.R., Vogel, F. 1973. A Twin Study on Leprosy. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme.Google Scholar
Corney, G., Robson, E.B., Strong, S.J.: 1972. The effect of zygosity on the birth weight of twins. Ann. Hum. Genet., 36: 45–59.Google Scholar
Edwards, J.H. 1968. The value of twins in genetic studies. Proc. R. Soc. Med., 61: 227–229.Google ScholarPubMed
Emanuel, J., Huang, S.W., Gutman, L.T. 1972. The incidence of congenital malformations in a Chinese population: the Taipei collaborative study. Teratology, 5: 159–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuhrmann, W. 1972. Fehlbildungen des Herzens und der grossen Gefässe. In Becker, P.E. (ed.): Humangenetik, ein kurzes Handbuch in fünf Bänden [Bd. III/2]. Stuttgart: Thieme-Verlag.Google Scholar
Hay, S., Wehrung, D.A. 1974. Congenital malformations in twins. Am. J. Hum. Genet., 22: 662–678.Google Scholar
Hendricks, C.H. 1966. Twinning in relation to birth weight, mortality, and congenital anomalies. Obstet. Gynecol., 27: 47–53.Google Scholar
Jörgensen, G., Gabka, J. 1971. Zwillingsuntersuchungen bei Lippenkiefer-Gaumen-Spalten. Med. Monatsschr., 25: 447–449.Google Scholar
Luxenburger, H. 1940. Die Zwillingsforschung als Methode der Erbforschung beim Menschen. In Just, G. (ed.): Handbuch der Erbbiologie des Menschen. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Onyskowova, Z., Dolezal, A., Jedlicka, V. 1971. The frequency and the character of malformations in multiple birth (a preliminary report). Teratology, 4: 496–497.Google Scholar
Potter, E.D. 1963. Twin zygosity and placental form in relation to the outcome of pregnancy. Am. J, Obst. Gynecol., 87: 566–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Propping, P., Kopun, M. 1973. Pharmacogenetic aspects of psychoactive drugs: facts and fancy. Humangenetik, 20: 291–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevenson, A.C., Johnston, H.A., Golding, D.R., Stewart, M.J.P. 1966. World Health Organization comparative study of congenital malformations. Bull. WHO, 34, Suppl.Google Scholar
Vesell, F.S. 1973. Advances in pharmacogenetics. Prog. Med. Genet., 9: 291–367.Google ScholarPubMed
Vogel, F. 1959. Moderne Probleme der Humangenetik Ergeh. Inn. Med. Kinderheilkd., 12: 52–125.Google Scholar
Vogel, F. 1961. Lehrbuch der allgemeinen Humangenetik. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar