Abstract
Epigenetics is the study of chemical and cellular modifications to DNA and chromatin, which alters the expression of genes without altering the underlying DNA sequence. The state of epigenetic elements can change over time and can have a heritable component, but can also be modified by internal and external environmental factors. Therefore, epigenetic phenotype analyses should take into account the dynamic nature of epigenetic mechanisms, and control for potential confounders, such as age and genetic factors. Twin studies provide valuable information about the genetic as well as the epigenetic epidemiology of complex traits and diseases. Such unique studies can explore the relationship between genetic, environmental, and random factors and their interactions with, for example, sex, age, and lifestyle factors underlying a phenotype of interest. Using twins provides a powerful model to help us unravel the multifactorial components of complex diseases and traits.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 683-702 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080970875 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780080970868 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Mar 2015 |
Keywords
- Complex trait
- Concordance
- Discordance
- Disease
- Dizygotic
- DNA methylation
- Environment
- Epigenetic
- EWAS
- Genetic
- Heritability
- Monozygotic
- Stochastic
- Twin