Utilizing the resource of twins reared apart: their distribution across nine provinces or cities of China.
Twins reared apart provide a fascinating experiment to distinguish genetic from environmental influences. However, there is as yet no broad report on distribution of twins reared apart, especially in the Chinese population. In this study, information on 18,295 volunteer twin pairs of all age groups was compiled in nine provinces or cities of China, and questionnaires were used for zygosity determination. It was discovered that twins reared apart from 0 to 10 years of age accounted for 2.2% of all twin interviewees, with the proportion of this 0-10 group separated before 1, 2, and 5 years old, accounting for 65.3%, 76.1%, and 91.3%, respectively. The proportion of twins reared apart is not significantly related to zygosity or gender, but it is related to region and twin age. As the age of twins lowers, the proportion of those reared apart gradually decreases. Twins reared apart will become rarer in the future and therefore should be cherished as a resource.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Wenjing
W
Gao
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Bin
B
Zhou
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Weihua
W
Cao
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Jun
J
Lv
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Canqing
C
Yu
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Shengfeng
S
Wang
Qingdao Center for Diseases Control and Prevention,Qingdao,China.
Zengchang
Z
Pang
Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Hangzhou,China.
Liming
L
Cong
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,China.
Zhong
Z
Dong
Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Shanghai,China.
Fan
F
Wu
Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Nanjing,China.
Hua
H
Wang
Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Chengdu,China.
Xianping
X
Wu
Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Tianjin,China.
Guohong
G
Jiang
Qinghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Xining.China.
Xiaojie
X
Wang
Harbin Medical University,Harbin,HeilongjiangChina.
Binyou
B
Wang
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,School of Public Health,Peking University Health Science Center,Beijing,China.
Liming
L
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014427:Twins
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