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The First ‘Classical’ Twin Study? Analysis of Refractive Error Using Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins Published in 1922

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Shiao Hui M. Liew
Affiliation:
Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St.Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Hanno Elsner
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, UKSH Campus, Kiel, Germany.
Tim D. Spector
Affiliation:
Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St.Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Christopher J. Hammond*
Affiliation:
Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St.Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom. chammond@btopenworld.com
*
*Address for correspondence: Christopher J. Hammond, Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK.

Abstract

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The first classical twin studies, recognizing the potential of comparing findings in identical twins, have previously been reported to be those by Siemens and by Merriman, both published in 1924. However, we would like to bring to attention a study performed by Walter Jablonski, 2 years earlier (1922), investigating the contribution of heredity to refraction in human eyes. Jablonski examined the eyes of 52 twin pairs and by comparing the size of within-pair differences between identical and non- identical twins was able to infer the heritability of a trait. Therefore, this is likely to be the first reported classical twin study.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005