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(N.G. Martin, D. Statham, in collaboration with A.C. Heath and P.A.F. Madden, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis and W. Slutske, University of Missouri)
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The genetic epidemiology group is at the forefront of work on the genetics of alcoholism and, from questionnaire and interview studies involving 6000 twins over the past 19 years, we have estimated that in Australia 64% of variance in liability to alcoholism is genetic in both men and women. We are also interviewing offspring aged 14-28 of twins with a view to disentangling the complex relationship of conduct disorder and alcohol dependence. New NIH grants will enable us to search for major genes influencing risk of alcoholism and smoking addiction.
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(N.G. Martin, A.C. Green, N.K. Hayward, D. Duffy, A. Eldridge, M. Grace, G. Zhu)
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It is clear that moles are a major risk factor for melanoma. Over the past nine years we have counted and mapped moles in over 600 pairs of Brisbane 12 year old twins and have followed up more half of them so far at age 14; we have also examined over 150 of their siblings. Analysis suggests very substantial genetic determination of mole count (>90%) and a major role for the familial melanoma gene CDKN2A in the etiology of flat moles, but not of raised ones. We are in the process of linkage disequilibrium mapping in the p16 gene region on chromosome 9p to try and identify the genes responsible.
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(N.G. Martin, M. Wright, A. Eldridge, M. Grace, N. Hansel, M. Luciano, in collaboration with Profs. G & L Geffen and Dr. G. Smith, University of Queensland)
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The same twins taking part in the mole study return at age 16 to take part in MAPS, the Mental Abilities and Performance Study. Twins are tested for complex reaction time, inspection time, working memory and evoked potentials are recorded. The aim is to estimate the extent to which these measurements are genetically influenced, and, eventually, to use linkage analysis to locate the major genes. So far over 400 pairs and a substantial number of siblings have been tested. The role of triplet repeat expansions of normal cognitive functioning is being investigated.
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(D.M. Evans, N.G. Martin, in collaboration with Prof. I. Frazer, University of Queensland)
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The same twins taking part in the mole and MAPS studies at ages 12, 14 and 16 donate a small blood sample at each visit and this is analysed in a Coulter counter to obtain counts of various blood cell types. Lymphocytes are also typed with markers CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD56. Analysis of data from nearly 400 pairs at age 12 reveals that most of these haematological measures are strongly inherited, at least 80% of variance being genetic. We are studying the longitudinal development of these cell numbers and using sib-pair linkage analysis to find genes of major influence on them.
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(G.W. Montgomery, N.G. Martin, D.L. Duffy, A. Henders)
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It is common knowledge that DZ twins tend to run in families but the endocrinology and mode of inheritance is not understood. In genetic studies, we have ascertained 213 pairs of sisters each of whom has had spontaneous DZ twins. A genome scan is complete and 330 markers have been typed. Several suggestive linkages have been found and are being pursued with extra markers and extra families. It is expected that such genes will yield major insights into the regulation of female fertility.
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(N.G. Martin, A.J. Birley and J.B. Whitfield, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney)
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In 1979-81 we studied 206 twin pairs in Sydney to estimate the importance of genetic factors in alcohol metabolism and psychomotor sensitivity. Sib-pair linkage analysis suggests that variants in the class I ADH region on chromosome 4 account for at least half the genetic variation in ethanol metabolism. Most interesting is that the combined ADH2/3 genotype appears to account for about 6% of variance in alcohol consumption and dependence in men.
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(N.G. Martin, G. Zhu, L.W. Powell in collaboration with J.B. Whitfield, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney)
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In 1993-95 blood samples were obtained from 3348 twins for whom extensive information on drinking, smoking and other lifestyle habits, and reproductive and menstrual history in women were available. Samples were assayed for serum iron, transferrin and ferritin and were typed for the CY and HD polymorphisms in the haemochromatosis gene, HFE. We are now quantifying the effects of all these variables on parameters of iron metabolism in the normal population.
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(S.A. Treloar, B. Haddon, S. Brooks, L. Swanso, N.G. Martin, G. Montgomery, in collaboration with V. O'Connor, University of Queensland and Dr. D. O'Connor)
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We are investigating the genetic epidemiology of endometriosis. So far we have identified nearly 500 sister pairs with endometriosis and have obtained DNA samples from about 70% of these. The first 156 families have been typed with 400 markers and linkage analysis has begun. There are some intriguing early suggestions of linkage but we refuse to get excited by them until we have a larger sample.
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(D.L. Duffy, N.G. Martin)
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It is well known that asthma and atopy are interrelated, and that both aggregate within families, and there is currently much interest in the genetics of these conditions. In a collaborative agreement grant with AxyS Pharmaceuticals Inc. and with collaborators in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, we have collected 800 sib pairs with asthma with the aim of performing a genome scan to find more major genes for asthma.
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(N.G. Martin, in collaboration with N. Bellamy, University of Queensland)
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We have conducted a pilot study of 170 twins to assess the sensitivity and specificity of our questionnaire diagnosis compared with clinical and radiological examination in 50 affected and 50 unaffected pairs and analysis is underway. The long-term aim is to map major genes for osteoarthritis.
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(K. Kirk, N.G. Martin)
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A substantial private donation has enabled us to embark on a new longitudinal study of psychological and other psychosocial risk factors in disease proneness. A comprehensive questionnaire has been assembled which is being mailed to all twins aged 50 and over on the Australian Twin Register. In time, the data collected will be correlated with follow-up data on morbidity and mortality.
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(A.J. Birley, N Gillespie, K Kirk, NG Martin in collaboration with Prof. I. Hickie, University of NSW)
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Over 6000 twin pairs from two age cohorts have been asked about their psychiatric symptoms. Multivariate genetic analysis suggests that while there is some common genetic predisposition with anxiety and depression, somatisation appears to be partly genetically distinct. The focus of the work now moves to finding variables which modify this genetic risk, including life events, and measures of support from parents, spouses and friends. We are also carrying out a genome scan for genes influencing anxiety and depression in a collaboration with Gemini Genomics Ltd (UK).
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(D.R. Nyholt, N.G. Martin)
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Common pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia, AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in humans. In Caucasians, normal male hair loss, commonly known as “male pattern baldness” (MPB), is noticeable in about 20% of men aged 20, and increases steadily with age, so that a male in his 90’s has a 90% chance of having some degree of MPB. In addition to being among the most common natural conditions that make men self-conscious, recent studies indicate associations of MPB with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and that MBP is a risk factor for clinical prostate cancer. Our results indicate that 81% of the total variance could be attributed to additive genetic effects (95%CI:77-85%). By studying families, we hope to understand more about how genes and environment influence natural hair loss (that is, not due to illness or medication) as well as other associated aspects of health.
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(D.R. Nyholt, B.J. Mowry, N.G. Martin)
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Typical migraine, is a frequent, debilitating and painful disorder that normally affects people during their most productive years (up to 25% of females and 7.5% of males in Western populations). Additionally, several studies have demonstrated a cross-sectional relation between psychiatric disorders (namely anxiety and depression) and migraine in community samples. This project will collect a sample with sufficient power to perform a genome wide linkage screen to i) identify novel susceptibility genes, and ii) confirm previously reported susceptibility genes for migraine and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The susceptibility genes identified (and confirmed) in this sample will provide clues to the further elucidation of the complex molecular pathways of migraine (and co-occurring psychiatric disorders) and, finally, will help in the development of diagnostic tests and rational treatment strategies.
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(N.G. Martin, M. Luciano, in collaboration with T.C. Bates, University of Edinburgh, A. Castles, University of Melbourne, and M. Coltheart, Macquarie University)
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The genetic epidemiology group is leading work on the genetics of dyslexia a disorder affecting as many as 17% of young Australians. From ongoing diagnostic interviews and molecular work with the co-operation of 2000 twins since 2002, we have estimated that in Australia 72% of variance in liability to dyslexia is genetic, with this effect persisting at the least into late teenage. We have further shown that there are two genetically distinct dyslexia disorders, and for the first time in a normal sample, our search for the genes influencing risk of dyslexia has confirmed 11 sites of interest, including two regions not known before. We are currently conducting association studies to pinpoint the genes, which appear to affect the early growth and migration of nerve cells in the brain.
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