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Genetic Versus Environmental Analysis of Reproductive Behavior of Female Twins

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Genetic Versus Environmental Analysis of Reproductive Behavior of Female Twins European Journal of Environment and Public Health 2021, 5(1), em0051 e-ISSN: 2542-4904 https://www.ejeph.com Genetic versus Environmental Analysis of Reproductive Behavior of Female Twins Shayesteh Jahanfar 1*, Munn Sann Lye 2 1 School of Health Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA 2 Department of Community Health, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, UTAR Kampar Campus, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA *Corresponding Author: [email protected] Citation: Jahanfar, S. and Lye, M. S. (2021). Genetic versus Environmental Analysis of Reproductive Behavior of Female Twins. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 5(1), em0051. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/8365 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Received: 11 Dec. 2019 Purpose: The study aims at investigating the relationship between environmental and hereditary causes of Revised: 23 May 2020 reproductive behaviour, which would otherwise be difficult to study. Accepted: 2 Jun. 2020 Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study of the female reproductive health of twins investigated the heritability of qualitative and quantitative measured variables related to the reproductive behaviour of adult twins. Subjects included192 identical and non-identical twins, 15 years of age and above, who were living in urban areas of Malaysia. Results: Basic genetic analysis for variables related to reproductive behaviour revealed that the age of first pregnancy, number of pregnancies and age of first marriage were under genetic influence. Proband wise concordance rate analysis showed higher similarity between identical twins in adopting recommended reproductive behaviour such as undergoing pap smears and using family planning techniques. The model-fitting analysis supported these findings. Conclusion: We concluded that genetic variation exists in individual differences in the reproductive behaviour of young female adults. Keywords: reproductive behaviour, twin, genetic versus environment, proband wise concordance trait among identical twins than the same trait among INTRODUCTION fraternal twins implies that the influence of genetic factors may predominate over that of environmental factors. Twin While many epidemiological and clinical studies have tried studies help us to understand the effect of genes and the to improve our knowledge regarding reproductive behaviour, environment on a specific measured variables.This study few studies have been done on twins. Reproductive behaviour aimed to examine the relative contribution of genetic and is associated with human development (Christensen et al., environmental components pertaining to reproductive 2003; Houle D., 1992), infertility (Day et al., 2015; Rahmioglu behavior including the age of first pregnancy, sex of children, et al., 2014) and certain psychological disorders (Mehta et al., number of pregnancies, deliveries, abortions, and number of 2016). Infertility and sub-infertility that constitute about 20- children. 30% of infertility cases remain unexplained, while over 48.5 million couples are infertile worldwide (Mehta et al., 2016). Age of marriage and age of the pregnancy, although considered MATERIALS AND METHODS issues related to social sciences, are closely linked with one’s health. This was a cross-sectional and comparative study. The Family and twin studies have long been used to find the study setting included all urban areas from Malaysian genetic or environmental effect of a trait. Even though twins providences. Volunteer twins entered the study. The target are the same age and usually grow up in the same household, population were adult female-female, and female from their experiences can differ greatly. Identical twins share all female-male twins, including both dizygotic (DZ) and the same hereditary material (DNA), whereas fraternal twins monozygotic (MZ) twins. For the purposes of asking share only about half of the same DNA. Greater similarity for a reproductive health questions, an adult was some 15 years of age and above. If one twin was not willing to participate, Copyright © 2021 by Author/s and Licensed by Veritas Publications. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 2 / 8 Jahanfar and Lye / European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 5(1), em0051 his/her cooperation was sought through the other twin. If recall: if in doubt they were asked to measure their weight and he/she still did not want to participate, the data from the first height if possible; a second phone call was made to confirm the twin were not analyzed. The histories of the Malaysian Twin correct data on weight and height if necessary), birth weight (if Registries are described elsewhere (Jahanfar and Jaffar, 2013; subjects had difficulty recalling this, they were asked to ask Jahanfar, Lye and Krishnarajah, 2013). their parents about birth weight; in some cases, the This study was funded by the University of Kuala Lumpur. researchers called the parents), the status of living (shared or The Ethics committee at the National Malaysian Research separated), and zygosity (subjects were asked if they are Registry approved the study (# 7379). identical or not, whether their friends and relatives have difficulty recognizing them and if as a child they used to wear To recruit twins, a poster and a pamphlet was designed, an identical mark). In a population-based sample of female- inviting all twins to register. These materials were sent to all female adult twins, self-reported zygosity in both members of public and private hospitals, clinics, high schools, colleges and the twin pair agreed with assigned zygosity in about 95% of universities, ministries, public offices and shopping centers. A pairs (Kendler et al., 1993). A study from the Garvan Institute website was designed for the same purpose. A YouTube video in Australia has shown that comparing the subject’s stated clip was produced to explain the registry in three different zygosity with DNA matching has over 99% accuracy (Jahanfar, languages (Chinese, Bahasa Malaya and Tamil) and invited 2008). twins to participate in the study. The information was also disseminated through mass media such as radio stations and Reproductive behavior was assessed by asking the newspapers. The information included the objectives of following questions: age of first pregnancy, sex of children, establishing a twin registry and the benefits and advantages of number of pregnancies, deliveries, abortions, and number of such a program (Jahanfar and Jaffar, 2013). children. All participating twins in this study were living together during childhood. This was verified by asking them, Twins contacted the two registries by calling or sending an “were you living together during childhood?” SMS to phone numbers given in the advertisement, sending an e-mail to the prepared website, or faxing or mailing a letter The sample size was calculated using MX script via provided in the pamphlet. Information from the participants simulation, as described in Neale (1997). The number of 2 2 was collected via phone calls. At the first stage, 800 phone calls samples depends on the h (heritability index) and C were made. There is no record of how many successful contacts (Common environment index) for each variable. For example, were made. From the phone calls made, only 192 individual for a variable such as “age of marriage”, the heritability is 0.4. twins were willing to cooperate fully. Refusal to cooperate was The sample size of 190 was considered adequate to reject the due to several reasons: language barriers, subjects finding the null hypothesis at a power level of 0.80 and α level of 0.05. The information to be sensitive, and choosing not to cooperate sample comprised 50% MZ and 50% DZ pairs reared together. after consultation with their partner. There is no information Statistical analysis and modelling techniques are explained on the percentage of each of these reasons. elsewhere (Jahanfar, Lye and Krishnarajah, 2013) but described In all cases, an information sheet explaining the study’s shortly in three sections: proband-wise concordance rate, objectives was read for the twins over the phone and their SPSS was used for descriptive analysis. Then, a more consent to participate in the study and consent to publish the comprehensive genetic analysis was conducted using the Mx study results were obtained verbally. Details of their co-twin 2.0 software (Neale, 1997). were obtained; the co-twins were contacted through SMS, Statistical Analysis phone call, e-mail, or mail to register and further data were obtained from them through phone calls. Data analysis is explained in four sections: Classical Falconer’s model approach, proband-wise concordance rate, Two research assistants at each study setting were genetic modelling for qualitative variables and model fitting available during working hours to answer the phone calls and analysis. handle the interviews by phone or face to face in the case where the twins were referred to the registry office. One Classical Falconer’s Model Approach researcher was available during the weekends to fill in the Using twin data, it was possible to estimate the variance questionnaire if the twins required. Each interview took about components using Falconer’s formula (1966). Basic twin 15 to 20 minutes. Female interviewers interviewed the twins studies adopt this formula for estimation of heritability
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