Variations in genome-wide gene expression in identical twins – a study of primary osteoblast-like culture from female twins discordant for osteoporosis

摘要

BackgroundMonozygotic twin pairs who are genetically identical would be potentially useful in gene expression study for specific traits as cases and controls, because there would be much less gene expression variation within pairs compared to two unrelated individuals. However the twin pair has to be discordant for the particular trait or phenotype excluding those resulting from known confounders. Such discordant monozygotic twin pairs are rare and very few studies have explored the potential usefulness of this approach.