Around 35 pairs of identical and non-identical twins are today (Thursday, June 23) descending on the University of Aberdeen to help further medical research.
They are attending a special Twin Day organised by the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London in collaboration with staff of the University’s Medical School and the Rowett Research Institute.
The event is the latest in a series of Twin Days being staged by the Twin Research Unit to gather data for an ongoing research programme, Twins UK, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Today’s participants have been invited by the unit to attend and give a range of measurements which will include blood samples, facial photographs, height, weight, grip strength and blood pressure. They will also be asked to fill in a range of questionnaires.
The results will be added to the collection of data compiled by the unit on 10,000 twins in the UK and which is used for key health research projects. Information gathered will also contribute to research underway at the University of Aberdeen and Rowett Research Institute on blood diseases and on genetic and dietary factors influencing cardiovascular disease.
Professor Tim Spector, Director of the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, said: “We are collecting data on all 10,000 twins registered on our database. We aim to establish a biobank of twin DNA which will be vital in studying many chronic diseases of aging.
“Twins are unique natural experiments. The genes of identical twins are the same so comparing them with non-identical twins, who share only half their genes, allows us to separate nature from nurture. It also allows us to pinpoint the causative genes and to accurately measure the effects of our environment, for example diet.”
Dr Geraldine McNeill, Research Fellow in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this unique event with the St Thomas’s group.
“Twins who take part in this kind of research are making a valuable contribution to our knowledge of how genes and other factors influence health. We hope that they will all find it an interesting and enjoyable day.”
Dr Kellie Rance, from the Rowett Research Institute, added: “We are interested in looking at the genetic basis of obesity. The twins here today will provide valuable data to help us understand the interactions between a person’s genes and the environment they live in, and how this affects their risk of becoming obese, or developing cardiovascular disease.“
So far the twin research unit has held three of these Twin Days in London and more are planned for Leeds and Bristol. Today’s event is the first to take place outside London. Further details of the St Thomas’s research programme are available at http://www.twinsuk.ac.uk or to join the Twins UK register call 0207-188-5555.
Any adult twins who are both male or both female who would be interested in taking part in future twin research in Aberdeen should contact Dr. Geraldine McNeill on (01224) 558198.