Genetic and environmental influences on autistic-like behaviors in 2-year-old twins.
This study aims to explore the genetic and environmental contributions to autistic-like behaviors in a general population sample of toddlers. In a classic twin study of 313 same-sex, 2-year-old twin pairs, autistic-like behaviors were assessed via parent ratings on the pervasive developmental problems subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist and observationally using tester ratings on the orientation/engagement subscale of the Behavior Rating Scale. Analyses show moderate, significant heritabilities for both measures of autistic-like behaviors, as well as modest, but significant shared environmental effects. These genetic and environmental influences overlap greatly between the two measures. Autistic-like behaviors in 2-year-old twins are largely genetic in etiology, but are also influenced by a shared environmental component at this age. This is the first study to examine the etiology of such behaviors in a sample of toddlers, thus providing novel information which could guide future research on genetic and environmental factors that affect these behaviors.
Edelson
Lisa R
LR
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 64 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215, USA. ledelson@bu.edu
Saudino
Kimberly J
KJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012042:Registries; D012931:Social Environment