Twin studies

Question 1

what is a twin study?

Answer 1

find a set of twins where at least one of them has a specific characteristic i.e. schizophrenia

Question 2

what are MZ twins?

Answer 2

100% identical Dna and environment

Question 3

what are DZ twins?

Answer 3

non-identical 50% DNA

Question 4

why do we use twins?

Answer 4

used to see how likely it is if 1 rwin has that characteristic how likely it is the one one has it

Question 5

what are concordance rates?

Answer 5

how many time does the 2nd twin have the same trait

Question 6

why are concordance rates used?

Answer 6

are compared to see if it gives evidence that the amount of genetic material shared indicates likelihood of suffering from same trait

Question 7

what are STRENGTHS of twin studies?

Answer 7

• one of only ways to differentiate nature or nurture
• now that we have DNA testing we can effectively tell MZ from DZ
• using triangulation of measurements of specific trait

Question 8

what are WEAKNESSES of twin studies?

Answer 8

• twins are relatively rare-sample pool not very large

- has been problems differentiating between MZ or DZ twins-identical twins treated differently contaminating results