Falconer's formula explained

Heritability is the proportion of variance caused by genetic factors of a specific trait in a population.^[1] Falconer's formula is a mathematical formula that is used in twin studies to estimate the relative contribution of genetic vs. environmental factors to variation in a particular trait (that is, the heritability of the trait) based on the difference between twin correlations.^[2] Statistical models for heritability commonly include an error that will absorb phenotypic variation that cannot be described by genetics when analyzed. These are unique subject-specific influences on a trait. Falconer's formula was first proposed by the Scottish geneticist Douglas Falconer.^[3]

The formula is $$^2\; =\; 2(r\_\; -\; r\_)$$where $^2$ is the broad sense heritability,

r _{mz} is the (monozygotic, MZ) identical twin correlation, and $r\_$ is the (dizygotic, DZ) fraternal twin correlation. Falconer's formula assumes the equal contribution of environmental factors in MZ pairs and DZ pairs. Therefore, additional phenotypic correlation between the two pairs is due to genetic factors. Subtracting the correlation of the DZ pairs from MZ pairs yields the variance in phenotypes contributed by genetic factors.^[4] The correlation of same sex MZ twins is always higher than the DZ twin correlation with various sexes and thus all gender differences are evaluated as heritable. To avoid this error, only genetic studies comparing MZ twins with the same sex DZ twins are valid. Correlations between $A\; =\; ^2$ (additive genetics) and C (common environment) must be included in the derivation shown below.

$$r\_\; =\; A\; +\; C\; +\; 2\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash text(A,C)$$$$r\_\; =\; \backslash fracA\; +\; C\; +\; 2\; \backslash cdot\; \backslash text(\backslash tfracA,C)$$

See also

• Quantitative genetics

Notes and References

1. Ge. Tian. Holmes. Avram J.. Buckner. Randy L.. Smoller. Jordan W.. Sabuncu. Mert R.. 2017-05-08. Heritability analysis with repeat measurements and its application to resting-state functional connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114. 21. 5521–5526. 10.1073/pnas.1700765114. 28484032. 5448225. 0027-8424. free. 2017PNAS..114.5521G .
2. Book: Weber . Wendell W. . vanc . Pharmacogenetics . 2008 . Oxford University Press . Oxford . 978-0-19-971216-8 . 107–8 . 2nd . Chapter 5: Genetics in Pharmacology: Twin Studies . https://books.google.com/books?id=xvK8BKbeNWAC&pg=PA107 .
3. Book: Falconer DS, Mackay TF . Introduction to quantitative genetics . 1998 . Longman Group, Ltd. . Essex . 978-0-582-24302-6 . 4th . registration .
4. Mayhew. Alexandra J.. Meyre. David. 2017-07-26. Assessing the Heritability of Complex Traits in Humans: Methodological Challenges and Opportunities. Current Genomics. 18. 4. 332–340. 10.2174/1389202918666170307161450. 29081689. 1389-2029. 5635617.