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Design and Implementation of a Twin-Family Database for Behavior Genetics and Genomics Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Dorret I. Boomsma*
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. dorret@psy.vu.nl
Gonneke Willemsen
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jacqueline M. Vink
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Meike Bartels
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Paul Groot
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jouke Jan Hottenga
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Therese Stroet
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Rob van Dijk
Affiliation:
Furore Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Rien Wertheim
Affiliation:
Furore Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marco Visser
Affiliation:
Furore Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Frank van der Kleij
Affiliation:
Furore Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
*
*Address for correspondence: Dorret Boomsma, Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Abstract

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In this article we describe the design and implementation of a database for extended twin families. The database does not focus on probands or on index twins, as this approach becomes problematic when larger multigenerational families are included, when more than one set of multiples is present within a family, or when families turn out to be part of a larger pedigree. Instead, we present an alternative approach that uses a highly flexible notion of persons and relations. The relations among the subjects in the database have a one-to-many structure, are user-definable and extendible and support arbitrarily complicated pedigrees. Some additional characteristics of the database are highlighted, such as the storage of historical data, predefined expressions for advanced queries, output facilities for individuals and relations among individuals and an easy-to-use multi-step wizard for contacting participants. This solution presents a flexible approach to accommodate pedigrees of arbitrary size, multiple biological and nonbiological relationships among participants and dynamic changes in these relations that occur over time, which can be implemented for any type of multigenerational family study.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008