ABSTRACT Monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins are studied to understand genetic and environmental influences on complex traits, however the mechanisms behind twinning are not completely understood. (Epi)genomic studies identified SNPs associated with DZ twinning and DNA methylation sites with MZ twinning. To find molecular biomarkers of twinning, we compared transcriptomics and metabolomics data from MZ and DZ twins. We analyzed 42,663 RNA transcripts in 1453 MZ twins and 1294 DZ twins from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR), followed by sex‐stratified analyses. The top 5% transcripts with lowest p ‐values were analyzed for replication in 217 MZ and 158 DZ twins from the older Finnish Twin cohort (FTC). In the NTR, one transcript ( PURG) was significantly differentially expressed between MZ and DZ twins; but this did not replicate in FTC. Pathway analyses highlighted the WNT‐pathway, previously associated with MZ twinning, and the TGF‐B and SMAD pathway, previously associated with DZ twinning. Meta‐analysis of 169 serum metabolites in 2797 MZ and 2040 DZ twins from the NTR, FTC and FinnTwin12, showed no metabolomic differences. Overall, we did not find replicable transcript‐level expression differences in blood between MZ and DZ twins, but highlighted the TGF‐B/SMAD pathway as a potential transcriptional biomarker for DZ twinning.

Nikki Hubers

Gabin Drouard

Rick Jansen

René Pool

Jouke Jan Hottenga

Miina Ollikainen

Xiaoling Wang

Gonneke Willemsen

Jaakko Kaprio

Dorret I. Boomsma

Jenny van Dongen

American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A

美国医学遗传学杂志 - A 部分 (AJMG) 为您提供遗传疾病和出生缺陷的所有生物学和医学方面的持续报道，以及在当前基因型/表型相关性的背景下深入记录表型分析。除了 A 部分，AJMG 还出版了另外两个部分： B 部分：神经精神遗传学，涵盖了对神经和精神疾病遗传机制的实验和临床研究。 C 部分：医学遗传学研讨会，客座编辑的主题评论合集AJMG 读者的热门话题。

The American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A focuses on the biological and medical aspects of genetic disorders and birth defects, providing ongoing research and in-depth analysis of phenotype in the context of current genotype/phenotype correlations. In addition to Part A, AJMG publishes two other parts: Part B, which covers experimental and clinical studies on the genetic mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders; and Part C, which is a collection of themed reviews edited by guest editors on topics of interest to AJMG readers.

《American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A》（美国医学遗传学杂志 - A 部分）专注于遗传疾病和出生缺陷的生物学与医学各个方面的持续研究，深入探讨基因型与表型之间的关系。除了 A 部分外，AJMG 还出版了两个其他部分：B 部分专注于神经精神遗传学，涵盖神经和精神疾病的遗传机制的实验与临床研究；C 部分则是医学遗传学研讨会，汇集了客座编辑对AJMG读者感兴趣的热门话题的评论合集。

Category	Quartile
生物学	4
生物学, 遗传学	4

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
GENETICS & HEREDITY	3