Definition

of Twin
Study
One of a family
of designs in
behavior
genetics
Highlighting the
role of
environmental
and genetic
causes on
behavior
Aid the study of
individual
differences






The twin design
compares the
similarity
monozygotic (MZ) or
identical twins,
who share nearly
100% of their genetic
polymorphisms
dizygotic (DZ) or
fraternal twins,
who may share only
about 50% of their
polymorphisms
METHODS AND THEORY OF
TWIN STUDY


Random mating
people tend to choose mates like themselves,
then fraternal twins could share more than 50
percent of their genes
more similarities on genetically influenced traits
Equal environments
fraternal and identical twins raised in the same
homes experience equally similar environments
some research suggests that parents, teachers,
peers and others may treat identical twins more
similarly than fraternal twins.
Gene-environment
interaction
interactions between genes and environment,
rather than genes and environment separately,
may influence many traits
Genetic
mechanisms
traits can be inherited through different genetic
mechanisms
a dominant gene inherited from one parent
trumps a recessive gene inherited from the other
parent