title: Mother's genome or maternally-inherited genes acting in the fetus influence gestational age in familial preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While multiple lines of evidence suggest the importance of genetic contributors to risk of preterm birth, the nature of the genetic component has not been identified. We perform segregation analyses to identify the best fitting genetic model for gestational age, a quantitative proxy for preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Because either mother or infant can be considered the proband from a preterm delivery and there is evidence to suggest that genetic factors in either one or both may influence the trait, we performed segregation analysis for gestational age either attributed to the infant (infant's gestational age), or the mother (by averaging the gestational ages at which her children were delivered), using 96 multiplex preterm families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These data lend further support to a genetic component contributing to birth timing since sporadic (i.e. no familial resemblance) and nontransmission (i.e. environmental factors alone contribute to gestational age) models are strongly rejected. Analyses of gestational age attributed to the infant support a model in which mother's genome and/or maternally-inherited genes acting in the fetus are largely responsible for birth timing, with a smaller contribution from the paternally-inherited alleles in the fetal genome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that genetic influences on birth timing are important and likely complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Miss, USA.
authors.forename: Jevon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plunkett
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trusgnich
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wangler
authors.forename: Lisanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomar
authors.forename: Zachary A-F
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Kistka
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: DeFranco
authors.forename: Tammy T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Adrienne E D
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Stormo
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puttonen
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallman
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haataja
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luukkonen
authors.forename: Vineta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fellman
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.forename: Aarno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palotie
authors.forename: E Warwick
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Daw
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teramo
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borecki
authors.forename: Louis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Muglia
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009035:Mothers; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics