Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

Effect of Sex and Genotype on Gene Expression in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines from Monozygotic Twins

  • Dr Allan McRae, Genetic Epidemiology Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Researc; Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Australia
  • Dr Nicholas Matigian, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research; Human Genetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Dr Lata Vadlamudi, Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Melbourne; Academic Unit of Medicine (Neurology), Australia
  • Dr John Mulley, Department of Genetic Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide; Department of Molecular Biosciences, Universit, Australia
  • Dr Bryan Mowry, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Australia
  • Dr Nicholas Martin, Genetic Epidemiology Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Dr Sam Berkovic, Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Dr Nicholas Hayward, Human Genetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Peter Visscher, QIMR, Australia

    • While there have been many methods proposed for the analysis of gene-expression data, the choice of which to use for a particular dataset is not clear. Mixed models have advantages in that the underlying theory is well understood and they are readily extended to account for aspects of the data structure. This potential is demonstrated through the modelling of the effect of sex on gene expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from 14 monozygotic twin pairs with partial replication. Depending on the model used, an average of between 22 and 28% of the variation in expression levels was explained by twin pair, suggesting a significant heritable component for gene expression levels. A large proportion of the genes detected as being differentially expressed in males and females were located on the X chromosome and showed a strong concordance with genes known to escape X-inactivation.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd