Are genetic correlations and environmental correlations correlated?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Analysis of Variance↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “environmental correlation”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Dispersal, Environmental Correlation, and Spatial Synchrony in Population Dynamics.
Many species exhibit widespread spatial synchrony in population fluctuations. This pattern is of great ecological interest and can be a source of concern when the species is rare or endangered. Both dispersal and spatial correlations in the environment have been implicated as possible causes of this pattern, but these two factors have rarely been studied in combination. We develop a spatially structured population model, simple enough to obtain analytic solutions for the population correlation, that incorporates both dispersal and environmental correlation. We ask whether these two synchronizing factors contribute additively to the total spatial population covariance. We find that there is always an interaction between these two factors and that this interaction is small only when one or both of the environmental correlation and the dispersal rate are small. The interaction is opposite in sign to the environmental correlation; so, in the normal case of positive environmental correlation across sites, the population synchrony will be lower than predicted by simply adding the effects of dispersal and environmental correlation. We also find that population synchrony declines as the strength of population regulation increases. These results indicate that dispersal and environmental correlation need to be considered in combination as explanations for observed patterns of population synchrony.
Moran effect↗
Genetic and environmental correlation and path coefficient analysis of fruit yield per bush and other traits in black currants (Ribes nigrum L.).
Twenty-five F1 hybrid families of black currants (Ribes nigrum L.) originating from diallel crosses of five cultivars were assessed. Phenotypic correlation coefficient between full-sib family means (rFS), genetic correlation coefficient between full-sib family expected values (rG) and the environmental correlation were estimated on the basis of two years of observations for 12 quantitative characteristics studied. Evident repeatability of correlations in both years was proved. A considerable consistency between the values of genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients was also observed. Coefficients of phenotypic and environmental correlation were significant for many pairs of traits. Most of the significant environmental correlation coefficients were found for the same pairs of characteristics for which phenotypic correlation coefficients were significant. This shows that genetic and environmental factors affected similar traits. Fruit yield expressed the largest number of significant correlations with other traits. Path coefficient analysis indicated that plant and berry size were the main factors influencing directly fruit yield in both years. It was proved that the number and length of one-year-old shoots via bush size had very large indirect effects on fruit yield per plant.
Journal Article↗
Revisiting Kurt Lewin: how to gain insight into environmental correlates of obesogenic behaviors.
Overweight and obesity are important determinants of population health. Prevention of weight gain is dependent on the successful balancing of eating and physical activity behaviors. Planned promotion of healthful behavior requires insights into important and changeable determinants and correlates of behavior change. The modest effects of health education have induced a shift in focus from personal to environmental correlates of eating and physical activity behaviors. Six systematic reviews were conducted in 2005 of observational studies of environmental correlates and environmental interventions for weight-related eating behaviors and physical activity for children, adolescents, and adults. The reviews of 297 observational studies showed that few investigations of environmental associations have been replicated, and that most studies used weak research designs and nonvalidated self-report measures, were restricted to micro-environmental factors, and failed to apply multilevel analyses. There is, therefore, very little evidence for an association between environmental factors and weight-related behaviors. However, the reviews of 112 intervention studies indicated much stronger evidence for positive effects of micro-physical and sociocultural environmental changes on eating and physical activity behaviors. Inspired by quotes from Kurt Lewin, we argue that before large-scale environmental change interventions are launched, better-designed and -conducted research on the true importance of environmental factors, including macrolevel factors, for obesogenic behavioral change is needed. Such research should (1) develop better measures of environmental exposure, (2) attempt to integrate personal and environmental correlates of obesogenic behaviors, (3) take a solution-oriented, rather then a problem-oriented approach, and (4) identify access points for inducing behavior change instead of finding explanations for existing behavioral patterns.
Health Behavior↗
Further investigation of psychological and environmental correlates of substance use in adolescence in six European countries.
AIM: To study the multifactorial correlates of adolescents' use of legal and illegal substances in six European countries and to assess whether a common pattern of factors exists irrespective of the countries' different sociocultural backgrounds. DESIGN: Cross-sectional European school population survey (ESPAD) following standardized methodology. PARTICIPANTS: National probability samples of 16-year-old high school students from Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia and the UK. Total sample 16,445. MEASUREMENTS: Anonymous questionnaire self-administered in the classroom. Self-reported use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drugs. Correlates examined: environmental, such as peer culture and family-related; behavior-related such as antisocial behavior, truancy and anomie; and psychological factors such as self-esteem and depressive mood. FINDINGS: Separate logistic regressions for the two genders produced a set of psychosocial correlates common to the use of all legal and illegal substances. The strongest were peer and older sibling models of use, and peer-oriented lifestyle, followed by patterns of antisocial behavior and truancy. Family-related variables such as not living with both parents, parental monitoring and relationships with parents were less significant. Self-esteem and depressive mood were not significant. Girls' use of substances, especially illegal ones, showed stronger associations than boys' with a deviant behavior pattern. Few interactions between country and other correlates were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Common correlates can be identified across countries. Older siblings' and peers' substance have a strong impact on adolescents' use. Preventive interventions should include all substances with addictive potential.
Adolescent↗
Cardiovascular risk factors in a French-Canadian population: resolution of genetic and familial environmental effects on blood pressure by using extensive information on environmental correlates.
Genetic and environmental influences on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) were examined in 371 French-Canadian families by using path analysis. Familial environment was estimated with environmental indices constructed from as many as 14 (of a pool of more than 100) correlates of blood pressure (BP). Approximately 20% of the variance in BP can be accounted for by the composite index, and the types of variables and the direction of their effects vary as a function of age and of the multivariate context. Path analysis of the family data suggests that genetic heritability is relatively high in children (from 0.49 for SBP to 0.56 for MBP) but much smaller in adults (from 0.08 for DBP to 0.18 for SBP). The proportion of variability explained by familial environment is estimated to be the same in children and adults and is much higher than reported to date (from 0.30 for SBP to 0.42 for DBP). In addition, sibships share significant nontransmitted environmental effects, and there is no evidence to suggest specific maternal effects in the aggregation of BP. Two unique findings emerge from this study. First, unlike in most earlier studies, we were able to arrive at the same parsimonious model for each of the BP variables. Second, the familial environment accounts for a substantial proportion of the variability in BP, which has been considerably underestimated in earlier studies.
Blood Pressure↗
Cardiovascular risk factors in a French Canadian population: resolution of genetic and familial environmental effects on blood pressure using twins, adoptees, and extensive information on environmental correlates.
Genetic and environmental influences on systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial (MBP) blood pressure were examined using an expanded version of a path model in which parents and their singleton, twin, and adopted offspring were incorporated, and which also included an environmental index as an estimate of the underlying familial environmental component. Estimates of genetic heritability are lower in parents (10-15%) than in offspring (40-50%). Cultural heritability was significant for SBP (0.31) and MBP (0.40), and an intergenerational effect was found for DBP, with higher estimates in parents (0.42) than in offspring (0.21). Marital resemblance was significant, and no support was found for differential maternal and paternal cultural transmission. Two novel results arising from this study are 1) gender-specific sibling effects, with greater female than male resemblance for SBP and MBP and the opposite pattern for DBP, and 2) the suggestion of extra twin resemblance arising on account of additional shared environments and resulting in greater like-sex than opposite-sex twin resemblance. The major conclusions drawn from this study are that 1) parameter estimates are stable with or without the use of extensive environmental indices, and 2) the addition of twins and adoptees did not significantly impact the results, with the exception of a possible influence of the adoptees in estimates of cultural heritability for DBP. Combining both these features (i.e., extended relatives and environmental indices) enables testing for additional sources of familial aggregation, which is not possible using the traditional nuclear family approach and results in a more accurate assessment of the relative roles of heredity and environment on blood pressure than has been previously possible.
Adolescent↗
Genetic and environmental correlations among serum lipids and apolipoproteins in elderly twins reared together and apart.
Genetic and environmental correlations among five serum-lipid measures were examined in the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. The sample included 302 twin pairs; 146 of these twin pairs were separated at an early age and were reared apart. The lipid measures examined include total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A-I and B. Genetic and environmental correlations were evaluated for two different age groups, formed by dividing the sample at the median. The younger group included individuals 41.8-65.4 years of age at the midpoint of testing, although only 24 individuals were < 50 years of age. The older group included all those > 65.4 years of age, up to age 87 years of age. Substantial genetic correlations were found within each age group, although there is no evidence for a single genetic factor common to all five lipids. The comparison of twins reared together with twins reared apart allowed estimation of the effects of shared rearing environment; however, shared rearing environment only appears to be a significant mediator of the phenotypic correlation between apolipoprotein B and cholesterol in the older group. Examination of the genetic and environmental covariances suggests that the relative contributions of genetic factors are lower in the older group. Nonshared environmental factors are relatively more important mediators of phenotypic correlations among the serum lipids in individuals > 65.4 years of age than they are for the younger group. Sex differences in the mediation of these serum lipids were not as clear.
Adult↗
Genetic and environmental correlations between age at menarche and bone mineral density at different skeletal sites.
Low bone mineral density (BMD) is an important risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. Though previous studies have demonstrated that age at menarche (AAM) is phenotypically associated with BMD, the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to this association remain unknown. In this study, using variance decomposition analyses, we provided an accurate estimation of the genetic and environmental correlations between AAM and BMD in 2,667 Caucasian women from 512 pedigrees. After adjustment for significant covariates, we detected significant genetic correlations between AAM and BMD at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and ultradistal radius (rho(G) = -0.1316, -0.1417, and -0.1137, respectively; all P < 0.01). However, all environmental correlations between AAM and BMD were nonsignificant (P > 0.05). We also generated a principal component factor for BMD (PC_BMD) and evaluated the relationship between this factor and AAM. The genetic and environmental correlations between PC_BMD and AAM (rho(P) = -0.0847, P < 0.001; rho(G) = -0.1737, P < 0.01; rho(E) = -0.0348, P > 0.05) were consistent with the results of BMD at the three skeletal sites and AAM. Our results confirmed the significant phenotypic association between BMD and AAM and for the first time suggested that this association is mainly attributable to shared genetic, rather than environmental, factors.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Genetic and environmental correlations among skinfold measures.
A bivariate genetic analysis, utilizing variance decomposition techniques based on maximum likelihood methods, was undertaken to examine the genetic and environmental correlations among eight skinfolds in a large pedigreed sample of Mexican Americans from San Antonio, Texas. The resulting correlation coefficients reveal significant values for both the genetic and environmental components among the traits examined. The genetic correlation coefficients showed the highest values between skinfolds from the same region (i.e., triceps, biceps, and forearm), while the environmental correlation remained fairly constant between all traits. These findings are further supported by a principal component analysis of the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlation matrices. This represents the first study to partition the phenotypic correlation between these traits into their genetic and environmental components. An examination of the graphical representations of the eigenvectors of these correlation matrices reveals that the patterns of central versus peripheral fat distribution seen in the phenotypic correlation matrix are largely a function of the genetic correlation structure. All these findings are interpreted as evidence of a global pleiotropic effect in the genetic expression of these traits, with what might be secondary regional pleiotropic effects among specific subsets of the skinfolds. In addition it appears that these pleiotropic effects exist against a background of a relatively constant shared environmental effect. It is concluded that these traits are not independent with respect to either shared genetic or environmental influences.
Adolescent↗
Quantitative genetics and the evolution of ontogeny. II. Genetic and environmental correlations among age-specific characters in randombred house mice.
In this study, phenotypic, genetic, maternal and residual environmental correlations among all pairs of six ages (17, 24, 31, 38, 45 and 52 days) were calculated for each of five morphometric characters (body weight, head length, trunk length, trunk circumference, and tail length) in ICR randombred house mice. The maternal correlations between ages averaged nearly unity for all characters, and the overall level (and integration, I) of the genetic correlations (mean level = 0.82, mean I = 0.85) was greater than that for the residual environmental correlations (mean level = 0.26, mean I = 0.32). The patterns of the phenotypic and genetic correlations were similar, with the highest correlations being between contiguous ages and a relatively smooth decrease in correlations for increasingly distant ages. Nearly all of the genetic covariation among ages was explained by the first (average = 86%) and second (average = 14%) components derived from principal components analysis of the genetic correlations. Genes with basically equal pleiotropic effects presumably generated the first component, genes with different effects among ages the second component. From the patterns of genetic correlations, it is predicted that direct selection on any given age would result in a moderate, positive response at most other ages, with more change in the height relative to the shape of the growth curve for each characteristic.
Aging↗
Aldolase DNA polymorphism in subterranean mole-rats: genetic differentiation and environmental correlates.
We analysed the genetic diversity and environmental correlates of the aldolase A and B genes by means of restriction endonucleases (DNA RFLP analysis), in the four chromosomal species (2n = 52, 54, 58 and 60) of the actively speciating subterranean mole-rats of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. The results indicated that: (i) both aldolase genes are highly polymorphic; (ii) fragment frequencies and fragment profiles display geographical patterns and significant ecological correlates; (iii) discriminant analysis largely succeeded in separating the four chromosomal species on the basis of variation of aldolase RFLPs.
Animals↗
Use of repeated measures to interpret genetic and environmental correlations in animal research.
A method for partitioning environmental correlations into two distinct sources of covariation--lifetime rearing effects and idiosyncratic stimulus events occurring during testing ("noise")--is presented. The method, which is based on structural equation modeling of repeated tests, is demonstrated using correlations obtained from pairs of sessions in an Open Field Test and in a Light-Dark Test. Heritabilities of most behaviors are low, but genetic correlations between- and within-test sessions are high and thus substantively influence phenotypic correlations, including test-retest reliability. Testing "noise" is usually the primary source of environmental covariance among pairs of measures, although some instances of rearing environment being the sole source of E correlations were observed. Effects of Session 1 testing and/or the additional experience between S1 and S2 test sessions produce some significant differences between S1 and S2 within-session correlations, but these are usually not large. Although varying in size, the genetic, the rearing environment and the test environment correlations between a pair of variables were always consistent in sign. The analysis demonstrates the value of incorporating some of the contemporary research and analytic strategies used in the human individual differences field into animal studies.
Animals↗
Genetic and environmental correlations between bone phenotypes and anthropometric indices in Chinese.
Height, weight, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone size are all influenced by genetic and environmental factors as well as interactions between them. Height and weight are often used in population studies to adjust the bone phenotypes. However, it is still unknown what proportion of genetic and environmental variability is shared between these anthropometric characteristics and the bone phenotypes. The genetic and environmental correlations between the bone phenotypes and anthropometric indices in Chinese subjects were studied by bivariate quantitative genetic analysis on a sample of 931 healthy subjects from 292 Chinese nuclear families aged from 19 to 79 years. BMD and bone size at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the hip of all subjects were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We found significant genetic correlations between weight and spine BMD, hip BMD, spine bone size and hip bone size, which were 0.50 (P<0.01), 0.45 (P<0.01), 0.36 (P=0.02), and 0.38 (P<0.01), respectively. Likewise, significant genetic correlations between height and spine BMD, spine bone size, and hip bone size were 0.30 (P=0.02), 0.54 (P<0.01), and 0.58 (P<0.01), respectively. The environmental correlations were found to be significant only between height and spine bone size (P<0.001) and weight and hip BMD (P=0.02). These results suggest the probability that the same genetic and environmental factors contribute to these different phenotypes. Moreover, when a candidate gene or genomic region is responsible for the variation of both bone phenotypes and anthropometric indices, its true genetic effect on the bone phenotypes may be lost after one has adjusted the phenotypic values with weight and height as random environmental factors. It may have implications for population studies of candidate genes that underlie the complex bone phenotypes and for the development of strategies for therapeutic application.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Genetic and environmental correlations between bone geometric parameters and body compositions.
The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic and environmental correlations between weight, lean mass and bone geometric parameters (sub-periosteal diameter, W; cross-sectional area, CSA; cortical thickness, CT; section modulus, Z; and buckling ratio, BR) of femoral neck. The sample was composed of 512 Caucasian pedigrees, including 2667 females and 1822 males. Bivariate quantitative genetic analyses were performed to evaluate the genetic (rho(G)), environmental (rho(E)) and phenotypic (rho(P)) correlations between the study traits. Univariate genetic analyses showed that the heritabilities (h(2)) for bone geometric parameters were significant (P < 0.001) ranging from 0.50 to 0.60. The significant common household effects indicated the common environment shared by household members for W, CSA, CT, Z and BR (P < 0.05), but the magnitude was small compared with heritabilities. rho(E), rho(G) and rho(P) between bone geometric parameters and weight, lean mass were generally significant. Interestingly, lean mass showed both stronger genetic and environmental correlations with the bone geometric parameters than weight. In addition, according to the magnitude of correlation coefficients, the rho(G) between body compositions and bone geometric parameters were generally stronger than rho(E) (except for that between BR and body compositions). These data suggested that the geometric parameters of femoral neck are under strong genetic control. Furthermore, some common genetic and environmental factors are shared by bone geometric parameters and weight, lean mass. The results may help understand the intertwined relationships between bone metabolisms, mechanical loading and body compositions.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Psycho-social and environmental correlates of location-specific physical activity among 9- and 15- year-old Norwegian boys and girls: the European Youth Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the existence of independent location- or context specific forms of physical activity. This study sought to identify location-specific forms of physical activity in a sample of 9 and 15 years-olds Norwegian boys and girls, and examined their associations to psycho-social and environmental factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 9 and 15-year-olds (N = 760; 379 boys and 381 girls) was conducted in which participants responded to a computer-based questionnaire (PEACH) tapping potentially location specific forms of physical activity as well as psycho-social and environmental correlates. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the nine and fifteen year-olds self-reported their physical activity as located in three separate and specific contexts: a) school commuting, b) informal games play at school and c) organized sport, structured exercise and games play in leisure time. Dependent of location, psycho-social and environmental correlates explained between 15 and 55 percent of the variance in physical activity. The impact of peer support, enjoyment and perceived competence in physical activity generalized across the three locations. Enjoyment of physical education classes, parental support and teacher support, in contrast, confined to particular location-specific forms of physical activity. Generally, behavioural beliefs and environmental factors represented marginal correlates of all location-specific forms of activity. CONCLUSION: Young peoples' physical activity was identified as taking place in multiply genuine locations, and the psychosocial correlates of their physical activity seem to some extent to be location specific. Results may inform intervention efforts suggesting that targeting specific sets of psycho-social factors may prove efficient across physical activity locations, gender and age groups. Others, in contrast may prove effective in facilitating location specific physical activity, in which age may come to moderate the efficiency of intervention efforts.
Journal Article↗
Estimates of heritabilities and genetic and environmental correlations for left- and right-side uterine capacity and ovulation rate in mice.
Heritabilities for and genetic and environmental correlations between uterine capacity, ovulation rate, and body mass (BM) were estimated in mice. Uterine capacity was defined as the number of fetuses (LUC or RUC for left or right side) in one uterine horn for unilaterally ovariectomized females. Ovulation rate (corpora lutea, LCL or RCL for left or right ovary) was measured on the remaining single ovary in these same females. Data on 1,931 mice from four selection populations were used. Left ovulation rate and LUC were measured on 958 animals, and RCL and RUC of another 972 animals were recorded. Genetic and environmental variances and covariances were estimated simultaneously using an animal model with a multiple-trait, derivative-free, restricted maximum-likelihood procedure. Averages for heritability and correlation estimates derived from separate analyses of the selection populations are presented below. Heritability of LUC was higher (.33 +/- .06) than that of RUC (.19 +/- .02). Heritability of LCL and RCL ranged from .17 +/- .03 to .27 +/- .06, and heritability for BM was .65 +/- .05. The genetic correlation between LUC or RUC and LCL or RCL ranged between .43 +/- .29 and .68 +/- .05, and between LUC and RUC was .92 +/- .05. Body mass had a higher genetic correlation with LCL and RCL (.70 +/- .12 and .93 +/- .02) than with LUC and RUC (.37 +/- .05 and .47 +/- .12). Environmental correlations between LCL and LUC and RCL and RUC were .32 +/- .09 and .36 +/- .05, respectively.
Analysis of Variance↗
Understanding urban child mental health l service use: two studies of child, family, and environmental correlates.
The results of two studies identifying child, family, and environmental correlates of initial and ongoing mental health service use by urban minority children and their families are presented. In the first study, data from a sample of 405 adult caregivers of children revealed no predictive power of child demographic characteristics in relation to initial or ongoing service usage. Only parental ratings of child impulsive-hyperactive behavior were significantly related to ongoing involvement in services. In the second study, a new sample of 100 urban caregivers of children was interviewed. Parental discipline efficacy and attitudes about mental health services were found to relate significantly to initial attendance. Relative to ongoing service use, level of family stress, presence of another adult in the home, and parental discipline efficacy were significant. Implications for research and child mental health service organizations are highlighted.
Adolescent↗