Hay D A, O'Brien P J
Child Dev. 1983 Apr;54(2):317-30.
Twins are particularly useful for developmental behavior genetics, if adequate consideration is given to the possibilities of twin-singleton differences and of data from twins being unrepresentative of the entire population. As an alternative to existing analyses in the developmental behavior genetics of cognition, the covariance structure analysis method in biometrical genetics involving twins and other relatives has the potential for dissecting the determinants of the structure of cognitive abilities and how these change during childhood, as well as checking on the adequacy of twin data. Designed with these aims in mind, the La Trobe Twin Study is a mixed longitudinal analysis of 1,356 twins, their siblings, and cousins, who are followed between the ages of 3 and 15 years on a battery of physical and behavioral tests. The criteria for choosing behavioral tests in such a project are discussed, along with the comprehensive series of questionnaires necessary to examine the children's development in the context of the stresses a multiple birth may impose on a family. In discussion of methods of analysis, 2 points are emphasized: (1) Twin-singleton differences are specific to particular abilities rather than being general, and (2) the incidence of family changes and stresses in such that these should be considered among the environmental effects on development along with the more usual indices of family environment.
如果充分考虑双胞胎与单胎之间的差异以及双胞胎数据可能无法代表整个人口的可能性，那么双胞胎对于发展行为遗传学来说特别有用。作为认知发展行为遗传学现有分析方法的替代方法，生物统计学遗传学中涉及双胞胎及其他亲属的协方差结构分析方法，有潜力剖析认知能力结构的决定因素以及这些因素在儿童时期如何变化，同时还能检验双胞胎数据的充分性。出于这些目的设计的拉筹伯双胞胎研究，是对1356名双胞胎、他们的兄弟姐妹及表亲进行的混合纵向分析，这些人在3至15岁期间接受了一系列身体和行为测试。文中讨论了在此类项目中选择行为测试的标准，以及在多胞胎可能给家庭带来压力的背景下，为考察儿童发育所需的一系列全面问卷。在分析方法的讨论中，强调了两点：（1）双胞胎与单胎之间的差异是特定于特定能力的，而非普遍存在；（2）家庭变化和压力的发生率很高，因此在对发展的环境影响中，应将这些因素与更常见的家庭环境指标一并考虑。
