Genetic and environmental factors in head and face measurements of Belgian twins

Seventeen head and face measurements of 205 twin pairs, aged 18 to 25 years, are analyzed. In both sexes a significant genetic variance component is found for head length, head breadth, and frontal breadth, for seven breadth measurements of the face, for physio-face height, and nose height. A significant genetic variance component is found for nasion-gnathion, nasion-stomion, and lips height in males and for the two ear measurements in females. We suggest that the sex difference for heritability may be due to random factors and to continued growth from 18 to 25 years in males.