Sex-by-generation and ethnic group-by-generation interactions in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition

Principal component scores for members of the three largest ethnic groups tested in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition were subjected to a 3×2×2 (ethnic group x sex x generation) analysis of variance with unequal subclass numbers. Large and highly significant sex-by-generation and ethnic group-by-generation interactions were found for measures of general and specific cognitive abilities. These results suggest the influence of cultural factors on these group differences in Hawaii.The results reported here were made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD-06669.     

A reply to heathet al. on assortative mating for educational level

Heathet al. (Behav. Genet. 15:349–369, 1985), using data from a Norwegian twin registry and selected British and American samples, contend that assortative mating for educational level has not declined over the past 35 years. This is in contrast to the findings of Johnsonet al. Behav. Genet. 10:1–8, 1980), who reviewed the assortative mating literature, and Ahernet al. (Behav. Genet. 13:95–98, 1983), who analyzed data from the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition (HFSC). These authors found a decline in assortative mating for both intelligence and education. Heath and coworkers' criticism of the reliability of HFSC measures is rebutted, then new analyses are presented to show that the decline in assortative mating for both itelligence and education can be detected in self-report data from HFSC parents of Japanese ancestry, although not for parents of Caucasian ancestry. Data from a large-scale survey of alcohol use in Hawaii also indicate a decline in assortative mating for education. The differences in secular changes in assortative mating for educational level in Norway and in Hawaii appear to be real, not artifacts of measurement.The results reported here were made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD-06669.     

Familial resemblance for the Identical Blocks Test of spatial ability: No evidence for X linkage

The Identical Blocks Test of spatial ability was administered to subsamples of the two largest ethnic groups tested in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition—Americans of European ancestry (171 families) and Americans of Japanese ancestry (98 families). Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis of family data and correlational analyses provided no evidence to support the hypothesis that spatial ability is influenced by a major, X-linked, recessive gene. Thus it appears that recent failures to replicate the sex-linkage pattern obtained by Stafford (1961) are not due to differences in the tests employed. We suggest that alternative explanations should be sought for the well-known sex difference in spatial ability.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The senior author also acknowledges support by NIMH Grant MH-11167.     

Blood polymorphisms and cognitive abilities

Data from 15 tests of cognitive ability obtained from the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition were examined for relationships with 18 blood polymorphisms. The number of significant associations did not exceed the number expected by chance alone. Significant regression of pooled verbal and spatial test scores on a constructed zygosity index demonstrated that increasing homozygosity was associated with improved scores. The effect was consistent in both parents and offspring, probably in both sexes, and for subjects of both Japanese and European ancestry. However, these blood polymorphisms contributed very little to total variation in test scores.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD 06669.     

Family resemblances in personality

Parent-offspring regressions, sibling correlations, and other measures of family resemblance in personality were computed for 54 personality traits, assessed by several psychometric personality tests as part of the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition. Considering all scales, the results suggest that a small familial/heritable component exists with regard to individual differences in personality, but did not demonstrate that some domains of personality are more familial or heritable than others.The results reported here were made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant MH 06669, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Addiction Grant AA 01762. The present report is based on a dissertation presented by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.     

Further evidence for a gene influencing spatial ability

Data for six spatial tests from 927 families of European ancestry, 369 families of Japanese ancestry, and 93 families of Chinese ancestry from the Hawaiian Family Study of Cognition were subjected to unified mixed-model segregation analysis. Father, mother, son, and daughter data sets from each ethnic group were separately age-adjusted and standardized and then separately subjected to transformation procedures to reduce skewness and kurtosis. Families were reassociated prior to segregation analysis. Evidence for a major gene contributing to spatial visualizing ability was obtained for Mental Rotations and Progressive Matrices even with a normalizing transformation which reduced skewness and kurtosis to zero. It was concluded that provision for testing deviation from Mendelian transmission in the unified model protected against false inference of a segregating major gene. Minimizing distributional differences in the components of a data set is an important pretreatment.The results reported here are made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M.-P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD 06669. Support for I.B.B. was provided by NIMH Grant MH 14677.     

Family resemblances in serum uric acid level

There is substantial relation between individuals' serum uric acid level and their heights and weights. Even when the association of uric acid level with height/weight is partialed out, significant resemblances in uric acid level are found between biologically related persons (parents and offspring; siblings) but not between spouses. When the association of height/weight is partialed out, uric acid level does not have a significant association with measures of cognitive ability or with educational or occupational attainment.The results reported here are made possible by a collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Parent-offspring resemblance for specific cognitive abilities in Korea

Regressions of offspring on midparent value for tests of specific cognitive abilities in Korea were considerably higher than those for Americans of Japanese ancestry or Americans of European ancestry tested in Hawaii. This greater parent-offspring resemblance in Korea may be due to the particular method of test administration or to an increased genetic variance resulting from assortative mating. The pattern of parent-child correlations for three relatively pure tests of spatial ability and for the spatial factor did not conform to that of a sex-linked recessive character.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Correlations of measures of personality and of cognitive abilities within and across generations

Members of over 100 families took a battery of cognitive tests as well as various psychometric tests of personality. Analyses showed that individuals' cognitive and personality measures frequently were significantly correlated. Parent personality scale scores were significantly correlated with offspring cognition scores, and vice versa. Multiple regressions demonstrated that fathers' personality test scores substantially increased the predictability of sons' and, to a lesser extent, daughters' cognitive scores.The results reported here were made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720 and by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant MH 06669.     

Phenotypic assortative mating vs. social homogamy among Japanese and Chinese parents in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition

Among the subjects of Japanese and Chinese ancestries in the parent generation in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition were 47 pairs of siblings. Since data were available on the spouses of these siblings, this allowed for tests of whether spouse correlations of educational and occupational attainment and cognitive abilities were due to active phenotypic assortment and/or shared social background (social homogamy). Comparisons of sibling correlations, spouse correlations, and correlations between the spouse of one sibling and the spouse of the other sibling, as well as the results of model-fitting analyses, suggest that spouse correlations for education are determined by both phenotypic assortment and social homogamy, spouse correlations for occupational attainment by phenotypic assortment, and spouse correlations for verbal ability mostly by social homogamy.The results reported here were made possible by a collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G.E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

The Hawaii family study of cognition: A reply

Differences in age and number of children tested per family between two ethnic groups (Americans of Japanese ancestry and Americans of European ancestry) have a trivial effect on differences in regressions of midchild on midparent for tests of specific cognitive abilities. Although the regression of offspring on midparent value is not a mathematical function of the spouse correlation, an empirical association between these two measures of familial resemblance is expected for characters with nonzero heritability. Such an association is reported for anthropometric characters. Since age effects contribute to the covariance of family members, age correction of family cognitive data is essential.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Evidence for a major gene influencing performance on a vocabulary test

Scores on a vocabulary test given to members of 1818 nuclear families of different ethnic backgrounds were subjected to admixture analysis, segregation analysis utilizing both the mixed model and the transmission probability model and linkage analysis with 16 polymorphic markers. The data fitted a commingled distribution better than a unimodal distribution. Tests of the hypothesis that a major gene was segregating were not rejected by mixed model segregation analysis or by transmission probability analysis when provision was made for contribution from factors other than a major gene. There was no detectable heterogeneity by ethnic group nor by mating type. These analyses provide consistent support that there is a major gene for a component of verbal ability measured by a vocabulary test, and the segregation pattern is consistent with the expected Mendelian ratios. When vocabulary scores were adjusted for covariates including years of education, academic achievement, and reading habits, evidence for a major locus was lacking. The results of the linkage analysis were inconclusive. Current segregation models are affected by various factors leading to false inferences regarding monogenic mechanisms; however, in many respects, the mixed model and the transmission probability model are complementary with respect to power and robustness. The results of the analysis are discussed in this context.We thank Dr. J. M. Lalouel for access to his modified POINTER program, Professor N. E. Morton for access to NUCLEAR and POINTER, and Professor R. C. Elston for his support. The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado), supported by NSF Grant GB34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD06669.     

Familial resemblance for specific cognitive abilities

Measures of familial resemblance (spouse correlations, regressions of offspring on midparent, single-parent/single-child correlations, and sibling correlations) are presented for members of the two largest ethnic groups tested in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition. Median spouse correlations (corrected for differences in test reliability) for 15 individual tests of specific cognitive abilities are 0.15 and 0.12 for Americans of European and of Japanese ancestry, respectively. With regard to the regressions of offspring on midparent value, corresponding median values are 0.50 and 0.35. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses, as well as the ordering of single-parent/single-child and sibling correlations, provide no evidence to support the hypothesis that spatial ability is influenced by a sex-linked, recessive gene.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Segregation analysis of family data for 15 tests of cognitive ability

Segregation analysis of 15 tests of cognitive ability administered to 894 families of European ancestry and 366 families of Japanese ancestry gave evidence for a major gene contributing to performance on three tests of spatial ability in both ethnic groups. There was no evidence of major genes segregating in three other tests of spatial ability, or in tests measuring verbal ability, perceptual speed, or memory. The results supported the hypothesis that superior performance on ETS Hidden Patterns (HP) and Raven's Progressive Matrices (PM) is due in part to an autosomal dominant gene that accounts for 32% of the phenotypic variation in HP and 37% of the variation in PM. Evidence for a sex-limited autosomal dominant gene was found for a modification of the Shepard-Metzler Mental Rotations (MR) test, and 48% of the phenotypic variation in MR could be accounted for by this gene.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720 and Grant HD 06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Personality attributes of males and females marrying within vs. Across racial/ethnic groups

As part of a larger study, Adjective Check List scores were obtained from 543 couples in Hawaii who had married within their own ethnic group and 83 who had not. Females who married across ethnic groups generally scored higher in one domain of personality (dominance) than did females who married within their own ethnic group. Males who married crossethnically also differed in dominance from those who did not, but in different directions in different ethnic groups. In the group that had the highest status (Caucasian) in the decades in which these subjects married, they were less dominant; in the other groups, to varying degrees, they were more dominant. In general, males and females in cross-ethnic matings were more similar in personality test scores than males and females who married within their own ethnic groups. Spouse correlations were generally positive but trivial in magnitude, with very little difference in personality between homogamous and heterogamous couples. The average difference in personality between those who married within and outside their own ethnic group was associated with the rarity of outmarriage for the sex and ethnic group concerned.The results reported here are made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Familial resemblance for general cognitive ability in the Hawaii family study of cognition

Familial correlations for general cognitive ability wer estimated for three ethnic groups tested in the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition (Americans of European, Japanese, and Chinese ancestry). Assuming multivariate normality of family data, separate observed covariance matrices were computed for families of different size, ethnicity, and child's gender and then equated to their expectations using a log-likelihood ratio statistic. Resulting maximum-likelihood estimates of familial correlations are highly similar to previously reported product-moment and intraclass correlations; however, standard errors for the maximum-likelihood estimates are somewhat smaller. More importantly, the estimation procedure employed in the present study facilitates tests of alternative hypotheses. Using this approach, hypotheses of homogeneity of familial correlations among the three ethnic groups and of homogeneity among the various parent-offspring correlations (mother-son, mother-daughter, father-son, father-daughter) and sibling correlations (son-daughter, son-son, and daughter-daughter) were rejected.The results reported here were made possible by the collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and NICHD Grant HD-06669. This analysis was conducted while Beth Bennett was supported by NIMH Training Grant MH-16880.     

Ernährungseinflüsse auf osmotische Bilanz,Nierenfunktion und Homoiostase

Ohne ZusammenfassungAssociate Professor of Physiology, University of Illinois. In 1957–1958, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow, M. R. C. Unit for Climate and Working Efficiency, Department of Anatomy, Oxford University, England.Professor of Physiology and Head of Department, University of Illinois. In 1957–1958, U. S. National Science Foundation Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Physiology Department, Edinburgh.     

The effects of age,sex, and genotype on self-report drunkenness following a challenge dose of alcohol

Age is a potential source of variation that contributes to differences between, but not within, twin pairs. In most genetic analyses of twin data, linear and other functions of age are usually removed prior to model fitting. This correction is typically applied only within twin groups of the same sex and zygosity, and no heterogeneity test of age regressions is performed. Here we include age as a variable in the model-fitting procedure and allow for tests of heterogeneity of age regressions across sex and zygosity groups. The LISREL formulation of the approach is illustrated with data collected from Australian twins on subjective impressions of drunkenness following alcohol consumption. The results indicate significant negative covariation of impressions of drunkenness with age. The data support a simple model of additive genetic and unique environmental variation. No evidence was found for sex differences in genetic or environmental components of variation.The theoretical work and data analysis described in this paper were made possible by NATO Grant 86/0823 and grants from the Belgian National Research Fund, the State University of Gent, and the Catholic University of Leuven. We are also grateful to Drs. R. Vlietinck and R. Derom for excellent organization of the successful workshop. Data collection was made possible by a grant from the Australian Associated Brewers to N.G.M. and Drs. J. G. Oakeshott, J. B. Gibson, and G. A. Starmer and by grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The authors were supported by NIH Grants MH-40828 and AA-06781.     

Correlation of sinus slowing and hyperpolarization caused by adenosine in sinus node

The effect of adenosine on sinus node cells was examined in a preparation that precluded pacemaker shift. It was found that adenosine produced a dose-dependent slowing in rate. In examining the effects on the action potential parameters (n=10), adenosine caused a significant increase in the maximum diastolic potential (control =–62±2 mV, adenosine, 1×10^–4 M, =–67±3 mV) and a significant increase in the rate of rise of the action potential (control=3.3±0.6 V/s, adenosine, 1×10^–4 M, =7.2±2 V/s). There was only a slight shortening of the action potential duration and a small increase in the action potential overshoot. Adenosine caused a significant decrease in the rate of diastolic depolarization (control=100±19 mV/s, adenosine, 1×10^–4 M, =42±5 mV/s). Acetylcholine caused similar effects. The effects of adenosine were not affected by atropine or propranolol but were antagonized by aminophylline, an adenosine competitive antagonist. In another set of experiments (n=12) we sought to understand further the mechanism of sinus slowing caused by adenosine and compare with the effects of acetylcholine. The increase in cycle length due to different doses of adenosine and acetylcholine was measured. The preparation was then arrested with D-600 or NiCl₂. The cells were then exposed to the same concentrations of adenosine and acetylcholine and the amount of hyperpolarization from the resting potential ({ie75-1}=–40±4 mV) was measured. The change in cycle length and amount of hyperpolarization were linearly correlated (r=0.86). The interaction between adenosine and acetylcholine on the hyperpolarization was investigated further in another set of experiments. When acetylcholine and adenosine were added together the onset and magnitude of the hyperpolarization was greater than for adenosine alone. If atropine was given, still in presence of acetylcholine and adenosine, the hyperpolarization due to adenosine was revealed. The maximal hyperpolarization obtainable was always greater for acetylcholine than for adenosine. Furthermore, there was no additive effect of the highest dose of adenosine (2×10^–4M) on the maximal hyperpolarization caused by acetylcholine. The hyperpolarization caused by adenosine or acetylcholine was not affected by ouabain or cesium. The results suggest that adenosine and acetylcholine slow the SA node rate by a similar mechanism but via different receptors. The data are consistent with adenosine causing an increase in potassium conductance which is not blocked by cesium.Supported by Grant-in-Aid 81-911 from the American Heart Association — Virginia Affiliate, U.S. Public Health Services Grant R01-HL3111 and University of Virginia Award BRS 5S07-RR05431-22.Supported by Grant-in-Aid 81-911 from the American Heart Association — Virginia Affiliate, U.S. Public Health Services Grant R01-HL3111 and University of Virginia Award BRS 5S07-RR05431-22.     

Studies of esterase 6 inDrosophila melanogaster. VII. Remating times of females inseminated by males having active or null alleles

Esterase 6 (EST 6) inDrosophila melanogaster is a male reproductive enzyme transferred to females as a component of the seminal fluid [Richmond, R. C., Gilbert, D. G., Sheehan, K. B., Gromko, M. H., and Butterworth, F. W. (1980).Science 207:1483–1485]. Here we report investigations into the relation between EST 6 and remating by females. EST 6 activity in a strain selected for decreased time to remating is increased over control levels. Inseminated females remated to males carrying null or active alleles show no differences in the timing of remating. However, females inseminated by EST 6-active males remate significantly sooner than females inseminated by null males. Interrupted copulation experiments demonstrate that the remating effect is not due to EST 6 alone but requires other components of the ejaculate. Other evidence suggests that sperm stored in the ventral receptacle respond to EST 6 levels and control remating time. As the first mate of a female who will remate, null-EST 6 males have, under laboratory conditions, a significantly higher fitness than males carrying active alleles. Thus the absence of null alleles of EST 6 in natural populations presents a dilemma suggesting that the remating effect of EST 6 may be balanced by other effects on reproduction.This work was supported by NSF Grant BNS 79-21743 and NIH Grant AG 02035 to R.C.R. Computing costs were met in part by the Indiana University Wrubel Computing Center.