umxACEv - twin variance component

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No user picture. a_researcher Joined: 06/11/2021
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Hi,

I was wondering if the umxACEv function allows the extension of the twin design to include the twin variance component, T? Thanks a lot!

Replied on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 20:19
Picture of user. tbates Joined: 07/31/2009

Hi: Not sure I understand what you are asking: What is the "twin variance component" to which you refer?
Replied on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 23:32
No user picture. a_researcher Joined: 06/11/2021

In reply to by tbates

Hi, sorry for the lack of clarity--it would be T = environmental component specific to twins, which can be obtained also if siblings are included in the analysis (as an extended analysis): https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa254.
Replied on Fri, 08/06/2021 - 10:00
Picture of user. AdminNeale Joined: 03/01/2013

In reply to by a_researcher

As a comment, note that variance that seems specific to twins because DZ twins correlate more than siblings could be due to age and cohort effects that decay the sibling correlation relative to the DZ twins. Even prenatally, maternal diet and stress likely differ more across pregnancies than it does across placentas in a twin pregnancy. That too could easily generate lower sib than DZ correlations. These processes seem inherently at least as likely as, e.g., people going "Ooooh they're twins, let's treat them really really similarly..." - this is especially difficult to do if you don't know a person is a twin :).