Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies
Twins are a source of curiosity, both for the family and the scientific community. Genetic similarities between twins have been the preferred choice to study the heritability of traits. The fact that nature and nurture play a significant role in shaping one’s phenotype has prompted Geneticists to us...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Asian Journal of Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/56401 |
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| author | Ruby Dhar Arun Kumar Subhradip Karmakar |
| author_facet | Ruby Dhar Arun Kumar Subhradip Karmakar |
| author_sort | Ruby Dhar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Twins are a source of curiosity, both for the family and the scientific community. Genetic similarities between twins have been the preferred choice to study the heritability of traits. The fact that nature and nurture play a significant role in shaping one’s phenotype has prompted Geneticists to use twins as a proxy to address this fact. Based on the similarities, twins are of two types, monozygotic twins (MZ) and Dizygotic twins (DZ). Identical or monozygotic twins are formed when one fertilized egg (ovum), fertilized by one sperm, splits and develops into two embryos with precisely the same genetic information. The combined ratio of MZ and DZ to singleton delivery is approx 1: 100.
On the other hand, fraternal or dizygotic twins are formed when two eggs (ova) are fertilized by two sperm and produce two genetically unique children in the same pregnancy. Monochorionic twins are genetically identical, sharing the same placenta. If more than two twins share the placenta, these are monochorionic multiples. Monochorionic twins occur in 0.3% of all pregnancies. Monozygotic (identical) twins share all their genes, while dizygotic (fraternal) twins only share about 50%. Hence, any similarity seen between identical twins when comparing the similarity between sets of fraternal twins for a trait or condition is most probably
due to genes rather than environment.
TWIN REGISTRIES
Progress in twin research worldwide is carried out by establishing Twin registries or consortia based on collaborations of several twin families. These registries are a rich source of materials for Twin research. It is much needed to establish such Twin registries in India. With its 1.5 Billion population, Indian Twin registries can be a source of materials for Twin Research for the whole world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:33:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39f2c39250414156b469765682b9643c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2467-9100 2091-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:33:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Journal of Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-39f2c39250414156b469765682b9643c2023-08-01T16:00:34ZengManipal College of Medical Sciences, PokharaAsian Journal of Medical Sciences2467-91002091-05762023-08-0114812https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v14i8.56401Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studiesRuby Dhar 0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3600-6554Arun Kumar 1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-0296Subhradip Karmakar 2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4757-8729Scientist, Room 3020, Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Narayan Medical College, Gopal Narayan Singh University, Sasaram, Bihar, India Additional Professor, Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Twins are a source of curiosity, both for the family and the scientific community. Genetic similarities between twins have been the preferred choice to study the heritability of traits. The fact that nature and nurture play a significant role in shaping one’s phenotype has prompted Geneticists to use twins as a proxy to address this fact. Based on the similarities, twins are of two types, monozygotic twins (MZ) and Dizygotic twins (DZ). Identical or monozygotic twins are formed when one fertilized egg (ovum), fertilized by one sperm, splits and develops into two embryos with precisely the same genetic information. The combined ratio of MZ and DZ to singleton delivery is approx 1: 100. On the other hand, fraternal or dizygotic twins are formed when two eggs (ova) are fertilized by two sperm and produce two genetically unique children in the same pregnancy. Monochorionic twins are genetically identical, sharing the same placenta. If more than two twins share the placenta, these are monochorionic multiples. Monochorionic twins occur in 0.3% of all pregnancies. Monozygotic (identical) twins share all their genes, while dizygotic (fraternal) twins only share about 50%. Hence, any similarity seen between identical twins when comparing the similarity between sets of fraternal twins for a trait or condition is most probably due to genes rather than environment. TWIN REGISTRIES Progress in twin research worldwide is carried out by establishing Twin registries or consortia based on collaborations of several twin families. These registries are a rich source of materials for Twin research. It is much needed to establish such Twin registries in India. With its 1.5 Billion population, Indian Twin registries can be a source of materials for Twin Research for the whole world.https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/56401indian twingold minegenetic studies |
| spellingShingle | Ruby Dhar Arun Kumar Subhradip Karmakar Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies Asian Journal of Medical Sciences indian twin gold mine genetic studies |
| title | Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies |
| title_full | Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies |
| title_fullStr | Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies |
| title_short | Indian twin registry: A gold mine for genetic studies |
| title_sort | indian twin registry a gold mine for genetic studies |
| topic | indian twin gold mine genetic studies |
| url | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/56401 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rubydhar indiantwinregistryagoldmineforgeneticstudies AT arunkumar indiantwinregistryagoldmineforgeneticstudies AT subhradipkarmakar indiantwinregistryagoldmineforgeneticstudies |