Genetic and Environmental Influences on Infant Growth
Author Information
Author(s): Laura Johnson, Clare H. Llewellyn, Cornelia H. M. van Jaarsveld, Tim J. Cole, Jane Wardle
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
What are the genetic and environmental influences on infant growth trajectories?
Conclusion
Size and velocity of infant growth are primarily influenced by genetics, while the timing of peak growth is mainly determined by environmental factors.
Supporting Evidence
- Heritability of weight at birth and three months was low (38%), but higher at six months (62%).
- Growth parameters size and velocity were highly heritable (69% and 57%, respectively).
- Tempo of growth was predominantly influenced by environmental factors (42% common environmental influence).
Takeaway
This study looked at how babies grow and found that some parts of their growth are influenced by their genes, while others are affected by their surroundings.
Methodology
The study used data from a large twin birth cohort and modeled growth trajectories using the SITAR method.
Potential Biases
The twin method assumes equal sharing of common environmental exposures, which may not always be true.
Limitations
The sample may be biased towards higher socioeconomic status families and twins grow differently from singletons.
Participant Demographics
The study included 2402 families with twins from the UK.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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