Skip Navigation


Human Reproduction Update Advance Access first published online on November 16, 2007
This version published online on November 30, 2007
Human Reproduction Update, doi:10.1093/humupd/dmm036
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
14/1/37    most recent
dmm036v2
dmm036v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hoekstra, C.
Right arrow Articles by Montgomery, G. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hoekstra, C.
Right arrow Articles by Montgomery, G. W.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Dizygotic twinning

Chantal Hoekstra1,4, Zhen Zhen Zhao2, Cornelius B. Lambalk3, Gonneke Willemsen1, Nicholas G. Martin2, Dorret I. Boomsma1 and Grant W. Montgomery2

1 Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2 Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia 3 Division of Reproductive Medicine, VU University Amsterdam, Medical Centre (VUMC), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

To whom correspondence should be addressed at: 4 Correspondence address. Tel: +31-20-5988792; Fax: +31-20-5988832; E-mail: c.hoekstra{at}psy.vu.nl

The tendency to conceive spontaneous dizygotic (DZ) twins is a complex trait with important contributions from both environmental factors and genetic disposition. Twins are relatively common and occur on average 13 times per 1000 maternities, though the twinning frequency varies over time and geographic location. This variation is mostly attributed to the differences in DZ twinning rate, since the monozygotic twinning rate is relatively constant. DZ twinning is in part under genetic control, with mothers of DZ twins reporting significantly more female family members with DZ twins than mothers of monozygotic twins. Maternal factors such as genetic history, advanced age and increased parity are known to increase the risk of DZ twins. Recent research confirmed that taller mothers and mothers with a high body mass index (30>) are at greater risk of DZ twinning. Seasonality, smoking, oral contraceptive use and folic acid show less convincing associations with twinning. Genetic analysis is beginning to identify genes contributing to the variation in twinning. Mutations in one of these genes (growth differentiation factor 9) are significantly more frequent in mothers of DZ twins. However, the mutations are rare and only account for a small part of the genetic contribution for twinning.

Key words: twinning frequency / dizygotic twinning / GDF9 / genetic factors / environmental factors

The third keyword has been changed from ‘GDP9’ to ‘GDF9’

Received on August 14, 2007; revised September 7, 2007; accepted on October 12, 2007


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
L. A. Schieve, O. Devine, C. A. Boyle, J. R. Petrini, and L. Warner
Estimation of the Contribution of Non-Assisted Reproductive Technology Ovulation Stimulation Fertility Treatments to US Singleton and Multiple Births
Am. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2009; 170(11): 1396 - 1407.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
S. J. Jordan, A. C. Green, C. M. Nagle, C. M. Olsen, D. C. Whiteman, P. M. Webb, and for the Australian Cancer Study (Ovarian Cancer) a
Beyond Parity: Association of Ovarian Cancer With Length of Gestation and Offspring Characteristics
Am. J. Epidemiol., September 1, 2009; 170(5): 607 - 614.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
F. J. Broekmans, M. R. Soules, and B. C. Fauser
Ovarian Aging: Mechanisms and Clinical Consequences
Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2009; 30(5): 465 - 493.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
C. E. Boklage
Traces of embryogenesis are the same in monozygotic and dizygotic twins: not compatible with double ovulation
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2009; 24(6): 1255 - 1266.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol LettHome page
R. Kaeuffer, D. Reale, D. Pontier, J.-L. Chapuis, and D. W Coltman
Local effects of inbreeding on embryo number and consequences for genetic diversity in Kerguelen mouflon
Biol Lett, October 23, 2008; 4(5): 504 - 507.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
S. Helle
Why twin pregnancies are more successful at advanced than young maternal age? A potential role of 'terminal reproductive investment'
Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2008; 23(10): 2387 - 2389.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
M.J. Lambers, S. Roek, L. Luttikhof, R. Schats, R. Homburg, P.G.A. Hompes, and C.B. Lambalk
A family history of twinning in relation to multiple implantation
Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 889 - 893.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.