A Twin Study of Human Red Blood Cell Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase
- 1 May 1976
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists in The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 128 (5), 494-498
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.128.5.494
Abstract
Summary Significant sibling-sibling and within-family correlations of human red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity have suggested a high degree of genetic control over levels of activity of this catecholamine-related enzyme. However, family studies do not disentangle genetic from environmental similarities as causative of within-family correlations. We therefore undertook a human twin study using the monozygotic-dizygotic comparison method. Twelve pairs of monozygotic twins had an intraclass correlation of .90 in red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity, and seven pairs of dizygotic twins had an intraclass correlation of .37. Heritability of the enzyme activity was estimated by different methods as between 68–100 per cent.Keywords
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