More NTR Information

Why a twin register?  

The Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) was founded on February 1st 1987 at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam for the purpose of conducting scientific research. A large number of families with young twins are registred with the NTR. These twins are followed from birth in their development. Another important research of the NTR focuses on the health and life styles of adolescents and adults. Approximately 7000 twin pairs between 15 and 70 years and 28000 twin pairs between 0 and 15 years are registered with the NTR.

The aim of the NTR is to examine the contribution of hereditary predisposition to personality, growth, development, disease and risk factors for disease. Multiples are not different from singles, but the fact that with the help of twins we can determine to what extent differences between individuals are to be contributed to hereditay and environmental factors is unique.

For example: one person has high blood pressure and the other low blood pressure. Are these differences the result of environmental factors, such as the use of salt, or are they hereditary? Usually both factors are important and the aim of the research is to determine how large this contribution of genetic factors is.

How do we determine whether hereditary predisposition plays a role in behaviour and disease? To do this we need twins, both monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Monozygotic twins are genetic copies, they both have exactly the same genetic material. In contrast, dizygotic twins are genetically similar to ordinary brothers and sisters, they share on average 50% of their genetic material. Suppose genetic factors have an influence on smoking.  In that case monozygotic twins will look more alike than dizygotic twins. After all, monozygotic twins have exactly the same hereditay predisposition.

We are also interested in the phenomenon "twins" as such. For instance, what determines the fact that in some families more twins are born than in other families? Does being part of a twin have specific influences on the development and experience of a child?  

What happens after registration with the NTR?

After registration of a newborn twin pair with the NTR the parents receive a short questionnaire concerning birth weight of the children and the course of the pregnancy. In addition there are questions about possible physical defects. These data are used, for instance, in a large international study of cleft lip or palate. When the children are two years old, the parents will receive a more comprehensive questionnaire. In this questionnaire the parents are asked how old their children were when they were first able to roll over, crawl, sit, stand up and walk without support, got their first tooth and spoke their first words.

Older twins are also of importance to our research: genetic influences later on in life are an important research focus of the NTR. Every two or three years, multiples older than fourteen and their families are sent a questionnaire on health and behaviour. In addition, some twins are invited for more extensive measurements of for instance blood pressure and cholesterol. Participation is of course entirely voluntary.

Every year, those registered with the NTR receive the Twinfo, a publication of the NTR, with the most recent information about multiples and the NTR-research.