A simple algebraic demonstration of the validity of DeFries-Fulker analysis in unselected samples with multiple kinship levels

Joseph Lee Rodgers; Matt McGue

doi:10.1007/BF01067192

A simple algebraic demonstration of the validity of DeFries-Fulker analysis in unselected samples with multiple kinship levels

Joseph Lee Rodgers, Matt McGue

Psychology (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

DeFries and Fulker's (Behav. Genet.15, 467-473, 1985) regression procedure (DF analysis) to estimate c² and h² was originally applied to selected twin data. Since then, DF analysis has been applied more broadly in unselected data and with multiple (nontwin) kinship levels. Theoretical work based on the matrix algebra of variance-covariance matrices has shown that estimates of c² and h² are unbiased in selected two-group settings. In this article, a simple proof is presented supporting the validity of DF analysis in broader settings. We use scalar algebra to show that parameter estimates of h² and c² are unbiased in unselected settings with multiple (more than two) kinship levels. Caveats are offered, and other DF analysis problems are identified.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	259-262
Number of pages	4
Journal	Behavior genetics
Volume	24
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067192
State	Published - May 1 1994

Keywords

DeFries-Fulker regression procedure
algebra DF analysis
common-environmental influences
heritability
multiple kinship levels
unbiased estimates

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10.1007/BF01067192

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abstract = "DeFries and Fulker's (Behav. Genet.15, 467-473, 1985) regression procedure (DF analysis) to estimate c2 and h2 was originally applied to selected twin data. Since then, DF analysis has been applied more broadly in unselected data and with multiple (nontwin) kinship levels. Theoretical work based on the matrix algebra of variance-covariance matrices has shown that estimates of c2 and h2 are unbiased in selected two-group settings. In this article, a simple proof is presented supporting the validity of DF analysis in broader settings. We use scalar algebra to show that parameter estimates of h2 and c2 are unbiased in unselected settings with multiple (more than two) kinship levels. Caveats are offered, and other DF analysis problems are identified.",

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N2 - DeFries and Fulker's (Behav. Genet.15, 467-473, 1985) regression procedure (DF analysis) to estimate c2 and h2 was originally applied to selected twin data. Since then, DF analysis has been applied more broadly in unselected data and with multiple (nontwin) kinship levels. Theoretical work based on the matrix algebra of variance-covariance matrices has shown that estimates of c2 and h2 are unbiased in selected two-group settings. In this article, a simple proof is presented supporting the validity of DF analysis in broader settings. We use scalar algebra to show that parameter estimates of h2 and c2 are unbiased in unselected settings with multiple (more than two) kinship levels. Caveats are offered, and other DF analysis problems are identified.

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A simple algebraic demonstration of the validity of DeFries-Fulker analysis in unselected samples with multiple kinship levels

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