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| Home | Why
California Twins? |
| What is the California Twin Program? Why California |
As most twins know, twin pairs provide a
unique opportunity for scientists who are trying to understand the complicated mixture of
inheritance and environmental experience which results in each specific medical problem
(Here “environment” is a shorthand term for every influence which is not
inherited, including, for example, diet, exercise, smoking, and drinking as well as
exposure to pesticides, medical treatments, and air pollution). Identical twins share all
their genes whereas fraternal twins share half their genes, just like ordinary brothers
and sisters. Both kinds of twins share many childhood experiences, yet American twins,
especially fraternal twins, tend to live completely independent lives. Consequently it is
possible to identify twins who are similar with respect to genetic inheritance but not the
environment, or those who are genetically different but similar with respect to
environmental experience.California is the largest state and
relatively few California natives permanently move away, at least in comparison with other
states. Both the population and the environment of California are highly diverse, and
therefore California’s population, including her twins, reflects more genetic and
environmental variation than do the populations of other states. Thus more important
comparisons are possible, and these comparisons can be based on sufficiently large numbers
to permit solid conclusions. |
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