The continuing value of twin studies in the omics era

• Published in: Nature reviews. Genetics Vol. 13; no. 9; pp. 640 - 653
• Main Authors: van Dongen, Jenny, Slagboom, P. Eline, Draisma, Harmen H. M., Martin, Nicholas G., Boomsma, Dorret I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.09.2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337; 692/308/2056; Agriculture; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; DNA methylation; Epidemiology; Epigenomics; Estimates; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Function; Genetic Diseases, Inborn - genetics; Genetic engineering; Genetic variation; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genomes; Genomics; Heritability; Human Genetics; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Metabolomics; Phenotype; Proteomics; Registries; review-article; Twin studies; Twin Studies as Topic; Twins; Australia; Queensland Australia; Netherlands; Review; Twin

Key Points Twins are valuable subjects for studies in which control over genetic background and early environmental influences is desired. Monozygotic twins are derived from a single zygote and are therefore matched for genetic background. Dizygotic twins are derived from two zygotes and share the s...