Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
18024802
TITLE
Dizygotic twinning.
ABSTRACT
The tendency to conceive spontaneous dizygotic (DZ) twins is a complex trait with important contributions from both environmental factors and genetic disposition. Twins are relatively common and occur on average 13 times per 1000 maternities, though the twinning frequency varies over time and geographic location. This variation is mostly attributed to the differences in DZ twinning rate, since the monozygotic twinning rate is relatively constant. DZ twinning is in part under genetic control, with mothers of DZ twins reporting significantly more female family members with DZ twins than mothers of monozygotic twins. Maternal factors such as genetic history, advanced age and increased parity are known to increase the risk of DZ twins. Recent research confirmed that taller mothers and mothers with a high body mass index (30>) are at greater risk of DZ twinning. Seasonality, smoking, oral contraceptive use and folic acid show less convincing associations with twinning. Genetic analysis is beginning to identify genes contributing to the variation in twinning. Mutations in one of these genes (growth differentiation factor 9) are significantly more frequent in mothers of DZ twins. However, the mutations are rare and only account for a small part of the genetic contribution for twinning.
DATE PUBLISHED
2008 Jan-Feb
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
aheadofprint 2007/11/16
aheadofprint 2007/11/30
pubmed 2007/11/21 09:00
medline 2008/02/21 09:00
entrez 2007/11/21 09:00
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Hoekstra C Hoekstra Chantal C Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.hoekstra@psy.vu.nl
Zhao ZZ Zhao Zhen Zhen ZZ
Lambalk CB Lambalk Cornelius B CB
Willemsen G Willemsen Gonneke G
Martin NG Martin Nicholas G NG
Boomsma DI Boomsma Dorret I DI
Montgomery GW Montgomery Grant W GW
INVESTIGATORS
JOURNAL
VOLUME: 14
ISSUE: 1
TITLE: Human reproduction update
ISOABBREVIATION: Hum. Reprod. Update
YEAR:
MONTH:
DAY:
MEDLINEDATE: 2008 Jan-Feb
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Internet
ISSN: 1460-2369
ISSNTYPE: Electronic
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: Hum Reprod Update
COUNTRY: England
ISSNLINKING: 1355-4786
NLMUNIQUEID: 9507614
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review
COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS
GRANTS
GRANTID AGENCY COUNTRY
HD042157 NICHD NIH HHS United States
GENERAL NOTE
KEYWORDS
MESH HEADINGS
DESCRIPTORNAME QUALIFIERNAME
Age Factors
Animals
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15
Female
Genetic Variation
Growth Differentiation Factor 9
Humans
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins genetics
Pregnancy genetics
Prevalence genetics
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency genetics
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted genetics
Selection, Genetic genetics
Twins, Dizygotic genetics
SUPPLEMENTARY MESH
GENE SYMBOLS
CHEMICALS
REGISTRYNUMBER NAMEOFSUBSTANCE
0 BMP15 protein, human
0 Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15
0 GDF9 protein, human
0 Growth Differentiation Factor 9
0 Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
OTHER ID's