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Testing Twin Means and Estimating Genetic Variance. Basic Methodology for the Analysis of Quantitative Twin Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Joe C. Christian
Joe C. Christian*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
*
Department of Medical Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1100 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

Abstract

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Twin methodology for the analysis of continuously distributed traits is presented as a guideline for initial steps in the analysis of twin data. Tests for heterogeneity of twin means and variances are reviewed along with estimates of genetic variance.

Analysis of twin data appears on the surface to be a rather simple task, but investigators may well be confused by the wealth of choices available for hypothesis testing. This paper is designed to help the less experienced investigator, with perhaps a modest amount of data, begin analysis with maximum attention to testing all testable assumptions of the twin model, and using recent examples of applications of the methods.

Keywords

Twin data analysisGenetic varianceAssociations with twin typeTwin placentationEnvironmental covarianceHeritability estimates
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , January 1979 , pp. 35 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1979

References

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