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.
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 64 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215, USA. ledelson@bu.edu
Lisa R
LR
Edelson
Kimberly J
KJ
Saudino
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