Twin study
Twin study
A Twin study is a type of genetic study used to determine the relative influence of genetics and environment on individual differences in phenotypes. Twin studies are used to understand the genetic and environmental factors contributing to individual variability in human traits and diseases.
Pronunciation
- /ˈtwɪn ˈstʌdi/
Etymology
The term "twin study" is derived from the use of twins in these studies. The concept of studying twins to understand the influence of genetics and environment was first proposed in the late 19th century.
Methodology
Twin studies rely on comparing the phenotypic correlations between monozygotic twins (identical twins) and dizygotic twins (fraternal twins). Monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes, while dizygotic twins share on average 50% of their segregating genes. If a trait is more similar in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins, this suggests a genetic component to the trait.
Criticisms
Despite their widespread use, twin studies have been criticized for their assumptions and limitations. Critics argue that the equal environments assumption, which assumes that monozygotic and dizygotic twins experience equally similar environments, is flawed. Other criticisms include the potential for confounding variables and the difficulty in separating shared environmental influences from non-shared environmental influences.
Related terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Twin study
- Wikipedia's article - Twin study
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