Activity No.

10
TWIN STUDY

Introduction:

The debate on nature or nurture can be addressed through twin studies. One of the usual
methods in twin study is to note whether the trait is present or absent in one or both members of the
twin. If both pairs of the twin pair act in conjunction, and if both manifest the trait or if both are free of
it, the pair is concordant or phenotypically similar. If only one member of the pair possesses the trait,
the pair I disconcordant or phenotypically dissimilar.

The extent of concordance between identical twins, especially if raised in different

environments, or offers a measure of the relative role of genetics, while the degree of concordance
between fraternal twins reared together gives a measure of the relative role of environment.

Objectives:
(After going through this activity, you are expected to IDENTIFY YOUR OWN OBJECTIVE/S)

Procedure:

1. Interview/Observe one identical and one fraternal twins as regards the following traits. Use the data
sheet attached.
A. Anatomical traits B. Physiological traits C. Behavioral traits
1. Height 1. Blood type 1. Handedness
2. Weight 2. Blood pressure 2. Temper (moody vs stable)
3. Skin color (fair, dark) 3. Allergies 3. Sociability (extrovert vs shy)
4. Presence of pimples
5. Sex

2. Collate the data using the table provided. Note: this is a class activity.

3. Transform the collated data into a graph that show the percent of concordance (shaded) and
disconcordance (unshaded) for each trait. For example:
Trait Identical (n=9) Fraternal (n=9)
1. Height 0 100 0 100
2. Weight 0 100 0 100
3. Skin color 0 100 0 100
4. Pimples 0 100 0 100

(continue with the rest of the traits)

 WORKSHEET 10

Group No.: 4 Date Performed: ________________

Members: Esmeralda, Lovely A. Date Submitted: ________________

DATA SHEET

Name of Twins: Alexa and Ayesha Burgos

Age: 3 years old
Type of Twin (fraternal/identical): Identical Twins

Table. 10.1. Table showing the anatomical, physiological and behavioural traits of the studied twins.
Trait Alexa Burgos Ayesha Burgos
A. Anatomical trait
1. Height 57 cm 56 cm
2. Weight 13.2 kg. 13.5 kg.
3. Skin color Fair Fair
4. Pimple None None
5. Sex Female Female
B. Physiological trait
1. Blood type Unknown Unknown
2. Blood pressure Not applicable Not applicable
3. Allergy None Present
C. Behavioral trait
1. Handedness Right handed Right handed
2. Temper Lower temper Higher temper
3. Sociability More sociable Sociable

Name of Twins: Dan and Ben Magbanua

Age: 11 years old
Type of Twin (fraternal/identical): Identical Twins

Table. 10.2. Table showing the anatomical, physiological and behavioural traits of the studied twins.
Trait Dan Magbanua Ben Magbanua
A. Anatomical trait
1. Height 125 cm 123 cm
2. Weight 35 kg 33 kg
3. Skin color Brown Brown
4. Pimple None None
5. Sex Male Male
B. Physiological trait
1. Blood type AB AB
2. Blood press sure Not applicable Not applicable
3. Allergy None None
C. Behavioral trait
1. Handedness Right handed Right handed
2. Temper Bad temper Bad temper
3. Sociability Extrovert Extrovert
Name of Twins: Reymark and Reymond Paypon
Age: 27 years old
Type of Twin (fraternal/identical): Identical Twins

Table. 10.3. Table showing the anatomical, physiological and behavioural traits of the studied twins.

Trait Reymark Paypon Reymond Paypon

A. Anatomical trait
1. Height 5'4 5'4
2. Weight 62 kg 56 kg
3. Skin color Fair Fair
4. Pimple None None
5. Sex Male Male
B. Physiological trait
1. Blood type AB AB
2. Blood pressure 120/80 120/80
3. Allergy None None
C. Behavioral trait
1. Handedness Right handed Right handed
2. Temper Good temper Bad temper
3. Sociability Extrovert Extrovert

Name of Twins: Heña and Heño Aguilar

Age: 27 years old
Type of Twin (fraternal/identical): Fraternal Twins

Table. 10.4. Table showing the anatomical, physiological and behavioural traits of the studied twins.

Trait Heña Aguilar Heño Aguilar

A. Anatomical trait
1. Height 4'11 5'8
2. Weight 45 kg 67 kg
3. Skin color Brown Fair
4. Pimple Present Present
5. Sex Female Male
B. Physiological trait
1. Blood type AB A
2. Blood pressure 100/80 130/90
3. Allergy None None
C. Behavioral trait
1. Handedness Right handed Right handed
2. Temper Good temper Good temper
3. Sociability Extrovert Extrovert
 Name of Twins: Rhex and Rhesa Baga
Age: 14 years old
Type of Twin (fraternal/identical): Fraternal Twins

Table. 10.5. Table showing the anatomical, physiological and behavioural traits of the studied twins.

Trait Rhex Baga Rhesa Baga

A. Anatomical trait
1. Height 136 cm 138 cm
2. Weight 35 kg 38 kg
3. Skin color Brown Brown
4. Pimple Present Present
5. Sex Male Female
B. Physiological trait
1. Blood type Unknown Unknown
2. Blood pressure Not applicable Not applicable
3. Allergy None None
C. Behavioral trait
1. Handedness Left handed Right handed
2. Temper Good temper Bad temper
3. Sociability Extrovert Extrovert

TWIN STUDY CLASS DATA

Table 10.3. Twin Study Class Data for Identical Twins

TRAIT IDENTICAL TWINS TOTAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 + -
Height + - + - - + - - - - - + + + + + - + + - - - - - 10 14
Weight - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - + - + - - 3 21
Skin color + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + 23 1
Pimple - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + - + + + + + + 21 3
Sex + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 24 0
Blood type + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 24 0
BP + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 24 0
Allergy + + + + + + - + - - + - + - + + - + + - + + + + 17 7
Handedness + + - + + + + + + + + + - + + + + - + + + + + + 21 3
Temper + + + + - + - + + + - + + + - + - + - + - + - + 16 8
Sociability + + + - + - - - + - + - + + + + - + - - - - + + 13 11
Legend: + concordant - disconcordant

Assessment Questions:

1. Differentiate identical and fraternal twins.

Identical twins or also known as monozygotic twins are results of a single egg cell was fertilized
by a single sperm, then the fertilized egg splits into two. The identical twins share 100% of their
genes and always have the same sex. On the other hand, fraternal twins or also known as
dizygotic twins. There were two separate eggs fertilized by two different sperms during
fertilization. Fraternal twins may be both males, both females, or a male and a female. They
share 50% of their genes just like the non-twin siblings.
2. Based on the graph, which traits examined would more likely be due to genetic endowment?
Which are more likely be due to the environment? Justify.
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3. What are the applications of twin study?

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4. What are the limitations of the study? In other words, what extra care should be considered
when making generalizations based on twin study data?
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