Is preterm delivery genetically determined? |
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| Authors: | Hajo I.J. Wildschut ,L.H. Lumey&dagger ,Peter W. Lunt&Dagger |
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| Affiliation: | *Institute of Child Health, University of Bristol;†Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, USA;‡Department of Medical Genetics, Bristol, England |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Summary. Surprisingly, the genetics of preterm delivery have received very little attention in the literature. Possible explanations are the inability to obtain accurate information on the length of gestation in family studies and the heterogeneous nature of this disorder. In contrast to the many studies which consider the relative contribution of both genetic and environmental variance to the total variance of birthweight, few studies have examined the genetic basis of the duration of gestation in man. It is argued that both genetic and epidemiological approaches are needed to separate the effects of heredity and the environment on the duration of gestation. |
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