Abstract

Two main errors can occur in analyzing the action, interaction and correlation of genetic and environmental effects on any trait in human populations. A false hypothesis may be accepted. Effects may be missed which produce substantial bias in other parameter estimates. A detailed computer analysis of simulated data is to be conducted. The resolving power of human kinship studies will be investigated in four main areas: mechanisms of environmental transmission; mechanisms of mate selection; genotype-environment interaction; the interaction of genetic and environmental effects with sex. A number of new and old designs will be examined. Unless these effects can be quantified genetic studies may be seriously misleading. The importance for health-related goals lies in the need to justify any design in terms of its analytical power and cost-effectiveness for resolving competing hypotheses about the action and interaction of genes and environment. The project will determine sample sizes and structure necessary for reliable inference and reveal areas where ambiguities are likely to remain.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM030250-04
Application #
3277902
Study Section
Mammalian Genetics Study Section (MGN)
Project Start
1982-02-01
Project End
1986-01-31
Budget Start
1985-02-01
Budget End
1986-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1985
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

van den Berg, Stéphanie M; de Moor, Marleen H M; McGue, Matt et al. (2014) Harmonization of Neuroticism and Extraversion phenotypes across inventories and cohorts in the Genetics of Personality Consortium: an application of Item Response Theory. Behav Genet 44:295-313
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
Eaves, L; Heath, A; Martin, N et al. (1999) Comparing the biological and cultural inheritance of personality and social attitudes in the Virginia 30,000 study of twins and their relatives. Twin Res 2:62-80
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

Showing the most recent 10 out of 49 publications