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Sense and Nonsense in Genetic Epidemiology: A Critique of the Statistical Model of Williams and Iyer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

A.C. Heath ,
N.G. Martin  and
L.J. Eaves
A.C. Heath*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
N.G. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
L.J. Eaves
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
*
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, P.O. Box 33, MCV Station, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

Abstract

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The statistical model for the analysis of twin-family data of Williams and Iyer is examined. The model uses a large number of redundant parameters. It does not lead to quantitative predictions for new relationships. It allows for epistasisbut not dominance. It makes assumptions about assortative mating which are inconsistent with any biologically plausible mechanism. It assumes that the environmental correlation between parent and offspring is due to the direct effect of the parental genotypes, not phenotypes, on offspring environment. Other models which avoid these problems are more appropriate for the analysis of extended twin-family data.

Keywords

Genotype-environment modelsTwin-family designsAnalysis of variance
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 33 , Issue 4 , October 1984 , pp. 557 - 563
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1984

References

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