title: Sibling genes as environment: Sibling dopamine genotypes and adolescent health support frequency dependent selection.
abstract: While research consistently suggests siblings matter for individual outcomes, it remains unclear why. At the same time, studies of genetic effects on health typically correlate variants of a gene with the average level of behavioral or health measures, ignoring more complicated genetic dynamics. Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data, we investigate whether sibling genes moderate individual genetic expression. We compare twin variation in health-related absences and self-rated health by genetic differences at three locations related to dopamine regulation and transport to test sibship-level cross-person gene-gene interactions. Results suggest effects of variation at these genetic locations are moderated by sibling genes. Although the mechanism remains unclear, this evidence is consistent with frequency dependent selection and suggests much genetic research may violate the stable unit treatment value assumption.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Department of Sociology, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 716, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States. Electronic address: emily.rauscher@ku.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rauscher
authors.affiliation: New York University & NBER, Department of Sociology, 6 Washington Square North Room 20, New York, NY 10003, United States. Electronic address: conley@nyu.edu.
authors.forename: Dalton
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.affiliation: New York University, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology and the Department of Biology, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Siegal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D000328:Adult; D004298:Dopamine / Q000235:genetics*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000235:genetics; D035781:Siblings; D014427:Twins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Frequency dependent selection; Genetics; SUTVA; Self-rated health; Twin studies