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Epigenetic Epidemiology pp 161–183Cite as

The Utility of Twins for Epigenetic Analysis

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Abstract

Twin studies have played an important role in our understanding of individual variation for over a century. The strength of these studies lies in the capacity to perfectly control for inter-individual genetic variation through the use of monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs. Despite their genetic identity, MZ twins often show phenotypic variability, presumably in response to different environmental exposures. Given that epigenetic mechanisms are widely believed to be the mediators of the influence of environmental factors on the underlying genome, it is not surprising that the use of twins in epigenetic research is increasingly recognised as an important approach to help unravel the complexities associated with human development and disease. In addition, the strategic use of twins in epigenetic studies has revealed the importance of genetic factors and both in utero and postnatal environments to the establishment and maintenance of the human epigenome. Finally, twin studies are generating compelling evidence linking epigenetic disruption to the disease-associated risk in humans.

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Abbreviations

MZ:

monozygotic

DZ:

dizygotic

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid

EEA:

equal environments assumption

2D:

two dimensional

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

ICC:

intraclass correlation

RRBS:

reduced representation bisulphite sequencing

SLE:

systemic lupus erythematosus

RA:

rheumatoid arthritis

DM:

dermatomyositis

RNA:

ribonucleic acid

5MeC:

5- methylcytosine

CBMC:

cord blood mononuclear cells

HUVEC:

human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIMS:

amplification of inter-methylated sites

DC:

dichorionic (two placentas)

MC:

monochorionic

CGI:

CpG island region (enriched for CpG dinucleotides) 3′UTRnon protein coding 3′ untranslated region of RNA transcript

DMR:

differentially methylated regions

DRD2:

dopaminergic receptor D2

COMT:

catechol-O-methyltransferase

MSRDA:

methylation sensitive representational difference analysis

PPIEL:

Peptidylprolyl isomerise E-like

SMS:

Spermine synthase

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer, Disease and Developmental Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), Australia and Department of Paediatrics University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    Richard Saffery & Ruth Morley

  2. Applied Genetics and Biostatistics, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Debra L. Foley

  3. Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Debra L. Foley

Authors
  1. Richard Saffery
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  2. Ruth Morley
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  3. Debra L. Foley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Saffery .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology D, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Longwood Avenue 221, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Karin B. Michels

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Saffery, R., Morley, R., Foley, D.L. (2012). The Utility of Twins for Epigenetic Analysis. In: Michels, K. (eds) Epigenetic Epidemiology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2495-2_10

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