Abstract

Developmental changes in genetic and environmental effects have often been ignored in the analysis of family data. Longitudinal studies of the genetics of development have been hampered by lack of adequate mathematical models for the developmental process. We shall examine theoretical aspects of developmental change to provide parsimonious models for the cumulative effects of genes and environment from childhood to adulthood. Mathematical analysis and computer simulations will compare the ability of different types of study to resolve theories of developmental change. Analysis of existing cross-sectional data on nuclear families, adoptions, extended pedigrees, kinships of twins and their relatives will detect the interaction of genetic differences with age. Longitudinal data on twins and their parents will be used to test alternative hypotheses of behavioral and physiological development.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG004954-06
Application #
3115479
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 3 (EDC)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1993-06-30
Budget Start
1989-07-01
Budget End
1990-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Type
Overall Medical
DUNS #
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298

  Publications

Bergin, Jocilyn E; Neale, Michael C; Eaves, Lindon J et al. (2012) Genetic and environmental transmission of body mass index fluctuation. Behav Genet 42:867-74
Maes, Hermine H; Neale, Michael C; Medland, Sarah E et al. (2009) Flexible Mx specification of various extended twin kinship designs. Twin Res Hum Genet 12:26-34
D'Onofrio, Brian M; Turkheimer, Eric; Emery, Robert E et al. (2007) A Children of Twins Study of parental divorce and offspring psychopathology. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 48:667-75
Maes, Hermine H; Neale, Michael C; Kendler, Kenneth S et al. (2006) Genetic and cultural transmission of smoking initiation: an extended twin kinship model. Behav Genet 36:795-808
Turkheimer, Eric; D'Onofrio, Brian M; Maes, Hermine H et al. (2005) Analysis and interpretation of twin studies including measures of the shared environment. Child Dev 76:1217-33
Bulik, C M; Wade, T D; Heath, A C et al. (2001) Relating body mass index to figural stimuli: population-based normative data for Caucasians. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 25:1517-24
Maes, H H; Neale, M C; Martin, N G et al. (1999) Religious attendance and frequency of alcohol use: same genes or same environments: a bivariate extended twin kinship model. Twin Res 2:169-79
Eaves, L J; Heath, A C; Neale, M C et al. (1998) Sex differences and non-additivity in the effects of genes on personality. Twin Res 1:131-7
Heath, A C; Eaves, L J; Kirk, K M et al. (1998) Effects of lifestyle, personality, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and genetic predisposition on subjective sleep disturbance and sleep pattern. Twin Res 1:176-88
Eaves, L; Martin, N; Heath, A et al. (1997) Age changes in the causes of individual differences in conservatism. Behav Genet 27:121-4

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