Abstract
By extending a multivariate normal model for analyzing familial aggregation in a trait across arbitrary pedigrees, Hopper and Mathews [(1982).Ann. Hum. Genet. 46:373–383] showed that variations in correlations can be estimated as a function of cohabitation history. Such variations may result from the effect of shared environment, and the model allows for such an effect to cause dissimilarity in the trait values of individuals, perhaps through competition. Application to Cattell's Factor A, sizia (reserved, detached) versus affectia (outgoing, warm-hearted), measured on 597 individuals in 78 Melbourne families, reveals evidence for a small aggregating polygenic additive effect, corresponding to a “heritability” of 0.33. However, the traits of mothers and their juvenile offspring are significantly less correlated while cohabiting than would be predicted by this heritability. It is suggested that some other factor causes the dissimilarity, the effect of which appears to decrease as the time since cohabitation increases for adult mother-offspring pairs. We postulate that this disaggregating effect is the result of environmental factors related to cohabitation, although age- and sex-dependent effects of genetic factors cannot be excluded from providing an alternate explanation.
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We are grateful to the Shepherd, Foundation and Sr. A. Balderas for help with data collection and Dr. J. D. Mathews for making the data available. This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the U.S. Public, Health Service (HL 19984), and the Victor Hurley Fund of the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
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Hopper, J.L., Culross, P.R. Covariation between family members as a function of cohabitation history. Behav Genet 13, 459–471 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065922
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065922