Project description:An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was performed on buccal cells from monozygotic-twins (MZ) reared together as children, but who live apart as adults. Cohorts of twin pairs were used to investigate associations between neighborhood walkability and objectively measured physical activity (PA) levels. Due to dramatic cellular epigenetic sex differences, male and female MZ twin pairs were analyzed separately to identify differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs). A priori comparisons were made on MZ twin pairs discordant on body mass index (BMI), PA levels, and neighborhood walkability. In addition to direct comparative analysis to identify specific DMRs, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify DNA methylation sites associated with the physiological traits of interest. The pairs discordant in PA levels had epigenetic alterations that correlated with reduced metabolic parameters (i.e., BMI). The DNA methylation sites are associated with over fifty genes previously found to be specific to vigorous PA, metabolic risk factors, and sex. Combined observations demonstrate that behavioral factors, such as physical activity, appear to promote systemic epigenetic alterations that impact metabolic risk factors. The epigenetic DNA methylation sites and associated genes identified provide insight into PA impacts on metabolic parameters and the etiology of obesity.
Project description:This project contains genome-wide DNA methylation data generated using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (Illumina), for 79 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) discordant monozygotic twin pairs. By investigating disease discordant monozygotic twins, DNA methylation can be assessed without the confounding influence of genetic heterogeneity which often affects case-control epigenome-wide association studies of common diseases. Twins were recruited from two cohorts; Arthritis Research UK in Manchester and TwinsUK in London.
Project description:Genome-wide MeDIP-Sequencing of 23 monozygotic twin pairs (n=46) from Australia discordant for major depressive disorder (MDD). MeDIP-seq of 23 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for major depressive disorder. MZ twin pairs were compared to identify significantly differently methylated sites associated with MDD.
Project description:The exploration of copy number variation (CNV), notably of somatic cells, is an understudied aspect of genome biology. Any differences in the genetic make-up between twins derived from the same zygote represent an extreme example of somatic variation. We studied 19 pairs of monozygotic twins with either concordant or discordant phenotype using two platforms for genome-wide CNV analyses and show that CNVs exist within pairs in both groups. These findings impact our views of genotypic and phenotypic diversity in monozygotic twins, and suggest that CNV analysis in phenotypically discordant monozygotic twins may provide a powerful tool in identifying disease predisposition loci. Our results also imply that caution should be exercised with the interpretation of disease causality of de novo CNVs found in patients based on analysis of a single tissue in routine disease-related DNA diagnostics Analysis of copy number variability in concordant healthy monozygotic twin pairs as well as three monozygostic twin pairs discordant a Parkinsons disease (PD) phenotype using the Illumina HumanHap 300 dead chips. Keywords: SNP data
Project description:Human intelligence demonstrates one of the highest heritabilities among human quantitative traits. Phenotypically discordant monozygotic twins provide a way to identify loci responsible for normal-range intelligence. We conducted array-based genome-wide gene expression analysis aiming to identify genes displaying significant difference among monozygotic twin pairs manifesting between-co-twins IQ differences.
Project description:The exploration of copy number variation (CNV), notably of somatic cells, is an understudied aspect of genome biology. Any differences in the genetic make-up between twins derived from the same zygote represent an extreme example of somatic variation. We studied 19 pairs of monozygotic twins with either concordant or discordant phenotype using two platforms for genome-wide CNV analyses and show that CNVs exist within pairs in both groups. These findings impact our views of genotypic and phenotypic diversity in monozygotic twins, and suggest that CNV analysis in phenotypically discordant monozygotic twins may provide a powerful tool in identifying disease predisposition loci. Our results also imply that caution should be exercised with the interpretation of disease causality of de novo CNVs found in patients based on analysis of a single tissue in routine disease-related DNA diagnostics Analysis of copy number variability in concordant healthy monozygotic twin pairs as well as three monozygostic twin pairs discordant a Parkinsons disease (PD) phenotype using the Illumina HumanHap 300 dead chips. Genotyping using the HumanHap300-duo bead chip from Illumina, GEO accession GPL5711
Project description:The study aims to assess gene expression in plaque samples collected from twin pairs that are both concordant and discordant with respect to dental Caries diagnosis. File Naming Conventions are as follows: Patient ID : 4 digit identifier Diagnosis : Caries Negative(CN) or Caries Positive(CP) Type of Twin: Monozygotic(MZ)or Dizygotic(DZ) Pair to xxxx: 4 digit twin identifier maps to the Patient ID E.g: 2126_CP_MZ_PairTo_2125_fastqc - 2126 is a caries positive patient and pairs to monozygotic twin pair 2125. Plaque samples from twin pairs that are both concordant and discordant with respect to dental Caries diagnosis are enriched for bacterial messenger RNA to study the gene expression differences in the samples.
Project description:Monozygotic twins discordant for type 2 diabetes constitute an ideal model to study environmental contributions to type 2 diabetic traits. We aimed to examine whether global DNA methylation differences exist in major glucose metabolic tissues from twelve 53–80 year-old monozygotic discordant twin pairs.
Project description:Human intelligence demonstrates one of the highest heritabilities among human quantitative traits. Phenotypically discordant monozygotic twins provide a way to identify loci responsible for normal-range intelligence. We conducted array-based genome-wide gene expression analysis aiming to identify genes displaying significant difference among monozygotic twin pairs manifesting between-co-twins IQ differences. Total RNA was isolated from B-lymphoblastoid cell lines and applied to Affymetirx arrays after reverse transcription. 17 twin pairs (34 subjects) were recruited in this study.