Review
Nature Reviews Genetics 3, 872-882 (November 2002) | doi:10.1038/nrg932
Classical twin studies and beyond
Dorret Boomsma1, Andreas Busjahn2 & Leena Peltonen3 About the authors
Abstract
Twin studies have been a valuable source of information about the genetic basis of complex traits. To maximize the potential of twin studies, large, worldwide registers of data on twins and their relatives have been established. Here, we provide an overview of the current resources for twin research. These can be used to obtain insights into the genetic epidemiology of complex traits and diseases, to study the interaction of genotype with sex, age and lifestyle factors, and to study the causes of co-morbidity between traits and diseases. Because of their design, these registers offer unique opportunities for selected sampling for quantitative trait loci linkage and association studies.
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Author affiliations
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- HealthTwiSt and Franz-Volhard-Clinic of the Charité, Wiltbergstrasse 50, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
- Departments of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki and National Public Health Institute, Biomedicum, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Correspondence to: Dorret Boomsma1 Email: di.boomsma@psy.vu.nl
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