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Related Experiment Videos

Has the "Equal Environments" assumption been tested in twin studies?

Lindon Eaves1, Debra Foley, Judy Silberg

  • 1Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0003, USA. eaves@hsc.vcu.edu

Twin Research : the Official Journal of the International Society for Twin Studies
|February 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

The twin method

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Genetics
  • Twin Studies

Background:

  • The equal environments assumption (EEA) is crucial for twin studies.
  • EEA posits that twins share equally correlated environments.
  • Testing EEA by stratifying correlations is common.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To model genetic influences on niche selection in twins.
  • To assess if genetic factors affect shared environments.
  • To evaluate the validity of stratification methods for testing EEA.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a model incorporating genetic factors in niche selection.
  • Simulated twin correlations stratified by environmental contact.
  • Analyzed potential for spurious findings in stratified analyses.

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Main Results:

  • Genetic factors can influence shared twin environments.
  • Stratification by contact can create false evidence of environmental effects.
  • Spurious genotype-environment interactions may be indicated.

Conclusions:

  • Stratification to test EEA may be misleading.
  • Results can be explained by genetic niche-selection theory.
  • Rethinking EEA testing is necessary.