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Optimization of Zygosity Determination by Questionnaire and DNA Genotyping in Chinese Adolescent Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Jie Chen ,
Xinying Li ,
Zhiyan Chen ,
Xiaodong Yang ,
Jie Zhang ,
Qing Duan  and
Xiaojia Ge
Jie Chen
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Xinying Li*
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. [email protected]
Zhiyan Chen
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Xiaodong Yang
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Jie Zhang
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Qing Duan
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Xiaojia Ge
Affiliation:
Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis 55455, United States of America.
*
*Address for correspondence: Xinying Li, Address: D303, A4 Da-tun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China.

Abstract

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The main aim of this study was to develop and optimize a questionnaire-based zygosity determination method in Chinese adolescent twins. Participants were 471 pairs of same-sex twins (345 monozygotic, 126 dizygotic) with a mean age of 14.56 years (SD = 2.62). A second sample was recruited for cross-validation, including 382 pairs of same-sex twins (261 monozygotic, 121 dizygotic) with a mean age of 12.53 years (SD = 2.22). The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions dealing with co-twin similarity or frequency of confusion. Two means were put forward to improve the predictive accuracy of the questionnaire — adding parent-reports to the analysis, and using a 2-point rather than 3-point response format. DNA genotyping was performed on nine short tandem repeat loci, with an estimated zygosity classification accuracy very close to 100%. The validity of all questionnaires was assessed by being compared to the results of DNA analysis. Results of stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the predictive accuracy of the 3-point self-reported questionnaire is 83.8%. Using parent-reports and 2-point scale led to 3.9% and 4.6% increase in predictive accuracy, respectively. When using the parent-reports and children's self-reports jointly, the predictive accuracy was enhanced to 90.6%. For the cross-validation, the equations and cut-offs derived from the first sample led to an acceptable accuracy (91.3%) in the second sample. In conclusion, the method we developed can be used in future studies among Chinese adolescent twins. Multiple-rater and 2-point response format were suggested for all twin studies for enhancing the predictive accuracy of questionnaires.

Keywords

zygosity determination in Chinese adolescent twins
Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , 01 April 2010 , pp. 194 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010