TY - JOUR
T1 - Not really identical
T2 - Epigenetic differences in monozygotic twins and implications for twin studies in psychiatry
AU - Haque, F. Nipa
AU - Gottesman, Irving I
AU - Wong, Albert H C
PY - 2009/5/15
Y1 - 2009/5/15
N2 - Classical twin studies in the field of psychiatry generally fall into one of two categories: (1) those designed to identify environmental risk factors causing discordance in monozygotic (MZ) twins and (2) those geared towards identifying genetic risk factors. However, neither environment nor differences in DNA sequence can fully account for phenotypic discordance among MZ twins. The field of epigenetics-DNA modifications that can affect gene expression-offers new models to understand discordance in MZ twins. In the past, MZ twins were regarded as genetically-identical controls for differing environmental conditions. In contrast, the evolving current concept is that epigenetic differences between MZ twins may modulate differences in diverse phenotype, from disease to personality. In this article, we review some twin studies, and discuss the dynamic interactions between stochastic, environmental, and epigenetic variables that influence neurobiological phenotypes.
AB - Classical twin studies in the field of psychiatry generally fall into one of two categories: (1) those designed to identify environmental risk factors causing discordance in monozygotic (MZ) twins and (2) those geared towards identifying genetic risk factors. However, neither environment nor differences in DNA sequence can fully account for phenotypic discordance among MZ twins. The field of epigenetics-DNA modifications that can affect gene expression-offers new models to understand discordance in MZ twins. In the past, MZ twins were regarded as genetically-identical controls for differing environmental conditions. In contrast, the evolving current concept is that epigenetic differences between MZ twins may modulate differences in diverse phenotype, from disease to personality. In this article, we review some twin studies, and discuss the dynamic interactions between stochastic, environmental, and epigenetic variables that influence neurobiological phenotypes.
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Genetics
KW - Monozygotic twins
KW - Non-shared environment
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U2 - 10.1002/ajmg.c.30206
DO - 10.1002/ajmg.c.30206
M3 - Article
C2 - 19378334
AN - SCOPUS:65949100147
SN - 1552-4868
VL - 151
SP - 136
EP - 141
JO - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics
JF - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics
IS - 2
ER -