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Within-pair Similarity in MZ and DZ Twins from Birth to Eighteen Years of Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

B. Alin Åkerman  and
S. Fischbein
B. Alin Åkerman*
Affiliation:
Department of Special Education, Stockholm Institute of Education, Stockholm, Sweden
S. Fischbein
Affiliation:
Department of Special Education, Stockholm Institute of Education, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Department of Special Education, Stockholm Institute of Education, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

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This study is based on 145 pairs of twins included in a longitudinal study of a cohort of singletons born in 1953 and living in the Stockholm metropolitan area in 1963. Of these 145 pairs, 28 were classified as MZ, 103 as DZ and 14 pairs could not be classified. School achievement and ability test results have been collected for this group as well as data for the boys from physical and mental examinations on enrollment to military service. The purpose of this study was to compare within-pair similarity for MZ and DZ twins from birth onwards. There seems to be a divergent trend over time for MZ twin pairs to become more similar and DZ twin pairs to become less similar in height growth, school achievement and verbal ability. This is in accordance with previous research in this field. In relating similarity within pairs to birthweight, we found a drop in within-pair similarity for low birthweight MZ and DZ twin pairs (both twins ≤2.500 g), but not for normal weight twin pairs. A discussion is initiated concerning methodological implications of these results.

Keywords

TwinsLow birthweightPhysical growthHeredity-environment influences
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 41 , Issue 2-3 , July 1992 , pp. 155 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1992

References

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