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The Problem of Determining Twin Zygosity for Epidemiological Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

C. Gavin Fairpo
C. Gavin Fairpo*
Affiliation:
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Leeds
*
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Leeds, Medical and Dental Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK

Abstract

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The use of epidemiological studies of twins as a means of determining the existence of genetic factors in various conditions is well known. To be of value, the zygosity of the twin pairs must be identified with as great a degree of confidence as possible. A method of determining twin zygosity, using concordance in general likeness, hair colour, hair type, eye colour, ear form, tongue roll and phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste sensitivity, was developed for use in a survey of 244 pairs of like-sexed twins aged 5 to 15 years. The results obtained and the problems raised when applying this method are discussed. The method was simple to apply to a large group of twin pairs, and monozygotic pairs were identified with a degree of confidence greater than 95%.

Keywords

Twin zygosityGeneral likenessHair colourHair typeEye colourEye formTongue rollingPTC taste sensitivity
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , January 1979 , pp. 21 - 33
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1979

References

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