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New Studies on the Heritability of Anthropometric Characteristics as Ascertained From Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

F.J. Da Rocha
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
F.M. Salzano*
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Heloisa F. Peña
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Sidia M. Callegari
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
*
Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 1953, 90000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Summary

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Sixteen anthropometric measurements were performed on each of 48 MZ and 51 DZ adult twin pairs. The largest amount of diversity between MZ and DZ was observed in relation to stature which was in average about three-and-a half times more different in the latter. Forehead and nasal height were also three times more variable among DZ twins, while head and nasal breadth, morphological face height, and lip thickness were twice as variable. The heritability estimates and F ratios yielded significant values in both sexes for twelve traits. The exceptions were mandibular and minimum frontal breadth, calf and chest circumference. The largest heritabilities were observed for stature, head breadth and lip thickness. Correlation matrices were obtained for all measurements; those showing significantly positive coefficients, however, did not show similar heritability values.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1972

References

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