Research article summary (published 30 Jan 2002):

Twin studies in behavioral research: a skeptical view.

Full Abstract

We review in detail two major ongoing research projects that employ samples of twins reared apart (and in one case, twins reared together). The studies attempt, via model fitting, to estimate proportions of genetic and environmental variance for many human traits. We discuss problems concerning the representativeness of samples, the accuracy and reliability of the data, the extent of contact of nominally separated twins, the measurement of selective placement effects, and the particular model-fitting procedures. The two studies agree in their conclusions, but we do not find the conclusions to be convincing. We suggest that no scientific purpose is served by the flood of heritability estimates generated by these studies.

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Author information

Author/s: Kamin, Leon J (LJ); Goldberger, Arthur S (AS);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa. kamin(-atsign-)cybertours.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Theoretical population biology (Theor Popul Biol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Feb; vol 61 (issue 1) : pp 83-95

Dates: Created 2002/03/15; Completed 2002/04/30; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 11895384, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child Child Rearing - psychology Cognition Humans Intelligence - genetics Models, Genetic

Personality - genetics Phenotype Reproducibility of Results Research Sibling Relations Twin Studies as Topic

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