Epigenetic contributors to the discordance of monozygotic twins

被引:77
作者
Singh, S [1 ]
Murphy, B
O'Reilly, R
机构
[1] Univ Western Ontario, Dept Biol, Mol Genet Unit, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
[2] Univ Western Ontario, Div Med Genet, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
关键词
complex diseases; differentiation; discordance; epigenetics; imprinting; methylation; monozygotic twins; schizophrenia;
D O I
10.1034/j.1399-0004.2002.620201.x
中图分类号
Q3 [遗传学];
学科分类号
071007 ; 090102 ;
摘要
Human monozygotic (MZ) twins estimated to occur once in 250 live births, result from an errant decision by embryonic cell(s) to develop as separate embryos. They are considered genetically identical and any phenotypic discordance between them has been used to implicate the role of environment. More recent literature, however, has questioned these assumptions but the frequency and the nature of any genetic discordance between MZ twins remains poorly understood. We will review published cases of phenotypic and genetic discordance between monozygotic twins to argue that not all discordance between such twins is due to differences in environment. The causes of reduced concordance between MZ twins remains poorly understood. They represent among the challenging aspects of the genetics of complex multi-factorial traits and diseases. A number of questions regarding the published results on MZ twins merit a reassessment in the light of modern molecular insight of the human genome. Such an assessment is needed in directing future studies on MZ twins. In particular, we will deal with the origin, development, genetic and epigenetic factors that may have implications in discordance of the MZ twin pairs.
引用
收藏
页码:97 / 103
页数:7
相关论文
共 76 条
[1]   ADDITIONAL CASE OF FEMALE MONOZYGOTIC TWINS DISCORDANT FOR THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF DUCHENNE MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY DUE TO OPPOSITE X-CHROMOSOME INACTIVATION [J].
ABBADI, N ;
PHILIPPE, C ;
CHERY, M ;
GILGENKRANTZ, H ;
TOME, F ;
COLLIN, H ;
THEAU, D ;
RECAN, D ;
BROUX, O ;
FARDEAU, M ;
KAPLAN, JC ;
GILGENKRANTZ, S .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, 1994, 52 (02) :198-206
[2]   X-chromosome inactivation: Counting, choice and initiation [J].
Avner, P ;
Heard, E .
NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS, 2001, 2 (01) :59-67
[3]   Placental transport rather than maternal concentration of amino acids regulates fetal growth in monochorionic twins: Implications for fetal origin hypothesis [J].
Bajoria, R ;
Sooranna, SR ;
Ward, S ;
D'Souza, S ;
Hancock, M .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, 2001, 185 (05) :1239-1246
[4]  
Bajoria R, 1997, PRENATAL DIAG, V17, P1207
[5]   Methyl-CpG-binding proteins - Targeting specific gene repression [J].
Ballestar, E ;
Wolffe, AP .
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY, 2001, 268 (01) :1-6
[6]   Genetics of schizophrenia and the new millennium: Progress and pitfalls [J].
Baron, M .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, 2001, 68 (02) :299-312
[7]   Creation of genomic methylation patterns [J].
Bestor, TH ;
Tycko, B .
NATURE GENETICS, 1996, 12 (04) :363-367
[8]  
Cardno AG, 2000, AM J MED GENET, V97, P12, DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(200021)97:1<12::AID-AJMG3>3.3.CO
[9]  
2-L
[10]   DIFFERENTIAL ACTIVITY OF MATERNALLY AND PATERNALLY DERIVED CHROMOSOME REGIONS IN MICE [J].
CATTANACH, BM ;
KIRK, M .
NATURE, 1985, 315 (6019) :496-498