Linkage analysis of smoking initiation and quantity in Dutch sibling pairs

• Published in: The hematology journal : the official journal of the European Haematology Association Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 274 - 282
• Main Authors: Vink, J M, Beem, A L, Posthuma, D, Neale, M C, Willemsen, G, Kendler, K S, Slagboom, P E, Boomsma, D I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Chromosome 10; Chromosome 14; Chromosome 3; Chromosome 6; Chromosome Mapping; Chromosomes; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; Cigarettes; Environmental factors; Genotype; Heritability; Humans; Linkage analysis; Lod Score; Netherlands; Quantitative trait loci; Siblings; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking - genetics; Tobacco Use Disorder - genetics; Netherlands
• ISSN: 1470-269X; 1466-4860; 1473-1150
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.tpj.6500255

The heritability of smoking initiation (SI) and number of cigarettes smoked (NC) was determined in 3657 Dutch twin pairs. For SI a heritability of 36% was found and for NC of 51%. Both SI and NC were also significantly influenced by environmental factors shared by family members. The etiological factors that influence these traits partly overlap. Linkage analyses were performed on data of 536 DZ twins and siblings from 192 families, forming 592 sibling pairs. Results suggested QTLs on chromosome 6 (LOD=3.05) and chromosome 14 (LOD=1.66) for SI and on chromosome 3 (LOD=1.98) for NC. Strikingly, on chromosome 10 a peak was found in the same region for both SI (LOD=1.92) and for NC (LOD=2.29) which may partly explain the overlapping etiological factors for SI and NC.