The Peri/Post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS)

PETS is a study of twins, from when they were in the womb through to childhood and beyond. The study aims to identify what makes us all who we are; our health, development and well being. Where better to start than with twins, who share the same mother, but are usually in their own ‘sac’ during pregnancy, then share the same home environment as children. Despite this, even ‘identical’ twins can have different personalities, physical characteristics and illnesses. Why is this?

Study Summary
Study name The Peri/Post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study
Study abbreviation PETS
Current principal investigator/s Jeffrey Craig
Richard Saffery
Current project manager

Jane Loke

Primary Institution/s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - MCRI
Collaborating Institution/s The University of Melbourne - UoM
Deakin University
Australian Institute of Family Studies
La Trobe University
Royal Women’s Hospital
Mercy Hospital for Women
Monash Medical Centre
Major funding source/s National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC
Bonnie Babes Foundation
Sigrid Juselius Foundation
Academy of Finland
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Financial Markets Foundation for Children
Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program
Study website https://www.mcri.edu.au/peripostnatal-epigenetic-twins-study-pets
Key reference for study
Study focus

Investigating whether epigenetic marks measured at birth and early life can provide clues to the causal links between intrauterine exposures influencing perinatal phenotype and the risk of chronic diseases later in life.

Sampling frame

Women attending multiple pregnancy clinics at 3 Melbourne (Australia) hospitals (Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women) who were 18-22 weeks gestation.

Primary study type Longitudinal cohort
Year commenced

2007

Is this study ongoing? Yes - the study is ongoing
Ongoing recruitment? Yes
Sample size (N)

212 twin pairs and mothers

Survey data available? Yes
Imaging data available? Yes
Linkage to administrative dataset/s? No, consent to link to administrative dataset(s) obtained, but linkage not yet started
Biosamples available? Yes
Are data available to others outside study team, with appropriate safeguards and structures in line with the cohort’s ethics and governance processes? Yes
Are there any costs associated with data/sample access for approved requests? There may be costs associated with access, evaluated on a case by case basis
Broadest type of participant consent available Extended consent (can be used for future ethically approved research related to this project)

2022

Ashtree DN, Osborne DA, Lee A, Umstad MP, Craig JM, Scurrah KJ. (2022). Three trajectories of gestational weight gain identified in an Australian twin study European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 275, 24 - 30. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.06.005

Ashtree DN, Osborne DA, Lee A, Umstad MP, Saffery R, Craig JM, Scurrah KJ. (2022). Gestational weight gain is associated with childhood height, weight and BMI in the Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 13(6), 757 - 765. DOI: 10.1017/s2040174422000113

Ashtree DN, Silva MJ, Sun C, Craig JM, Scurrah KJ. (2022). Birthweight-for-gestational-age z-scores are associated with early childhood cardiometabolic health in the Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twin Study Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 13(4), 514 - 522. DOI: 10.1017/s2040174421000465

Espinoza JL, Torralba M, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Kuelbs C, Singh S, Hughes T, Craig JM, Nelson KE, Dupont CL. (2022). Differential network analysis of oral microbiome metatranscriptomes identifies community scale metabolic restructuring in dental caries PNAS Nexus, 1(5), pgac239. DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac239

Li S, Ye Z, Mather KA, Nguyen TL, Dite GS, Armstrong NJ, Wong EM, Thalamuthu A, Giles GG, Craig JM, Saffery R, Southey MC, Tan Q, Sachdev PS, Hopper JL. (2022). Early life affects late-life health through determining DNA methylation across the lifespan: A twin study EBioMedicine, 77, 103927. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103927

Mj S, N M, Jm C, Dj M, R S, Mc S, Dp B, J L, Nm K, Jl H, Kj S, S L. (2022). DNA methylation in childhood dental caries and hypomineralization Journal of Dentistry, 117, 103913. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103913

O’Connor M, Moreno-Betancur M, Goldfeld S, Wake M, Patton G, Dwyer T, Tang MLK, Saffery R, Craig JM, Loke J, Burgner D, Olsson CA, Sung V, Sciberras E, Reilly S, Toumbourou JW, Perrett KP, Marraffa C, Guzys A, Koplin JJ, Brown SJ, Roberts G, Quach J, Silk TJ, Boneh A, Hutchinson D, Muggli E, Lewis S. (2022). Data Resource Profile: Melbourne Children’s LifeCourse initiative (LifeCourse) International Journal of Epidemiology, 51(5), e229 - e244. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac086

Silventoinen K, Li W, Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Yokoyama Y, Aaltonen S, Piirtola M, Sugawara M, Tanaka M, Matsumoto S, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Tynelius P, Rasmussen F, Craig JM, Saffery R, Willemsen G, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt CEM, Martin NG, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Lichtenstein P, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Saudino KJ, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Ullemar V, Almqvist C, Magnusson PKE, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Burt SA, Klump KL, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Boomsma DI, Sørensen TIA, Kaprio J. (2022). Changing genetic architecture of body mass index from infancy to early adulthood: an individual based pooled analysis of 25 twin cohorts International Journal of Obesity, 46(10), 1901 - 1909. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-022-01202-3

2021

Silva MJ, Zheng Y, Zaloumis S, Burgner DP, Craig JM, Manton DJ, Kilpatrick NM, Scurrah KJ. (2021). Utilising surface-level data to explore surface, tooth, individual and family influence on the aetiology of hypomineralised second primary molars Journal of Dentistry, 113, 103797. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103797

2020

Ashtree DN, McGuinness AJ, Plummer M, Sun C, Craig JM, Scurrah KJ. (2020). Developmental origins of cardiometabolic health outcomes in twins: A systematic review and meta-analysis Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 30(10), 1609 - 1621. DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.06.010

Li S, Nguyen TL, Wong EM, Dugué P-A, Dite GS, Armstrong NJ, Craig JM, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Saffery R, Sung J, Tan Q, Thalamuthu A, Milne RL, Giles GG, Southey MC, Hopper JL. (2020). Genetic and environmental causes of variation in epigenetic aging across the lifespan Clinical Epigenetics, 12(1), 158. DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00950-1

Temples H, Craig J, Saffery R, Bridges W, Loke JYJ. (2020). Lower Markers for Type 2 Diabetes in Children After a Longer Duration of Human Milk Journal of Obstetric Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 49(6), s71. DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2020.09.123

2019

Leong P, Loke YJ, Saffery R, Silk T, Burnett A, Josev E, Scurrah K, Theda C, Czajko A, Pua EP, Seal ML, Craig JM. (2019). Epigenetic Influences on Neurodevelopment at 11 Years of Age: Protocol for the Longitudinal Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study at 11 Years of Age (PETS@11) Twin Research and Human Genetics, 22(6), 446 - 453. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.120

Silva MJ, Kilpatrick NM, Craig JM, Manton DJ, Leong P, Burgner D, Scurrah KJ. (2019). Etiology of Hypomineralized Second Primary Molars: A Prospective Twin Study Journal of Dental Research, 98(1), 77 - 83. DOI: 10.1177/0022034518792870

Silventoinen K, Jelenkovic A, Yokoyama Y, Sund R, Sugawara M, Tanaka M, Matsumoto S, Bogl LH, Freitas DL, Maia JA, Hjelmborg JVB, Aaltonen S, Piirtola M, Latvala A, Calais-Ferreira L, Oliveira VC, Ferreira PH, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Ordoñana JR, Sánchez-Romera JF, Colodro-Conde L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Martin NG, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Kandler C, McAdams TA, Eley TC, Gregory AM, Saudino KJ, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Öncel SY, Aliev F, Medda E, Nisticò L, Toccaceli V, Craig JM, Saffery R, Siribaddana SH, Hotopf M, Sumathipala A, Rijsdijk F, Jeong H-U, Spector T, Mangino M, Lachance G, Gatz M, Butler DA, Gao W, Yu C, Li L, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJF, Cozen W, Hwang AE, Mack TM, He M, Ding X, Silberg JL, Maes HH, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Magnusson PKE, Pedersen NL, Aslan AKD, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Ullemar V, Almqvist C, Tan Q, Zhang D, Swan GE, Krasnow R, Jang KL, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Lichtenstein P, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Tynelius P, Rasmussen F, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ, Ooki S, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Harris JR, Sung J, Park HA, Lee J, Lee SJ, Willemsen G, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt CEM, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Rebato E, Busjahn A, Tomizawa R, Inui F, Watanabe M, Honda C, Sakai N, Hur Y-M, Sørensen TIA, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J. (2019). The CODATwins Project: The Current Status and Recent Findings of COllaborative Project of Development of Anthropometrical Measures in Twins Twin Research and Human Genetics, 22(6), 800 - 808. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.35

2018

Espinoza JL, Harkins DM, Torralba M, Gomez A, Highlander SK, Jones MB, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Kuelbs C, Inman JM, Hughes T, Craig JM, Nelson KE, Dupont CL. (2018). Supragingival Plaque Microbiome Ecology and Functional Potential in the Context of Health and Disease mBio, 9(6), e01631 - e01618. DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01631-18

Jelenkovic A, Yokoyama Y, Sund R, Hur Y-M, Harris JR, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Ooki S, Ullemar V, Almqvist C, Magnusson PKE, Saudino KJ, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, Brescianini S, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Burt SA, Klump KL, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Willemsen G, Bartels M, van Beijsterveld CEM, Craig JM, Saffery R, Rasmussen F, Tynelius P, Heikkilä K, Pietiläinen KH, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Rebato E, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Kim J, Lee J, Lee S, Sung J, Loos RJF, Boomsma DI, Sørensen TIA, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (2018). Associations between birth size and later height from infancy through adulthood: An individual based pooled analysis of 28 twin cohorts participating in the CODATwins project Early Human Development, 120, 53 - 60. DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.04.004

Li S, Wong EM, Dugué P-A, McRae AF, Kim E, Joo J-HE, Nguyen TL, Stone J, Dite GS, Armstrong NJ, Mather KA, Thalamuthu A, Wright MJ, Ames D, Milne RL, Craig JM, Saffery R, Montgomery GW, Song Y-M, Sung J, Spector TD, Sachdev PS, Giles GG, Southey MC, Hopper JL. (2018). Genome-wide average DNA methylation is determined in utero International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(3), 908 - 916. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy028

Yokoyama Y, Jelenkovic A, Hur Y-M, Sund R, Fagnani C, Stazi MA, Brescianini S, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Rebato E, Hopper JL, Cutler TL, Saudino KJ, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJF, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt CEM, Willemsen G, Harris JR, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Craig JM, Saffery R, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Rasmussen F, Tynelius P, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Ooki S, Rose RJ, Pietiläinen KH, Sørensen TIA, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (2018). Genetic and environmental factors affecting birth size variation: a pooled individual-based analysis of secular trends and global geographical differences using 26 twin cohorts. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(4), 1195 - 1206. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy081

2017

Castillo-Fernandez JE, Loke YJ, Bass-Stringer S, Gao F, Xia Y, Wu H, Lu H, Liu Y, Wang J, Spector TD, Saffery R, Craig JM, Bell JT. (2017). DNA methylation changes at infertility genes in newborn twins conceived by in vitro fertilisation Genome Medicine, 9(1), 28. DOI: 10.1186/s13073-017-0413-5

Gomez A, Espinoza JL, Harkins DM, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Torralba M, Kuelbs C, Kodukula R, Inman J, Hughes T, Craig JM, Highlander SK, Jones MB, Dupont CL, Nelson KE. (2017). Host Genetic Control of the Oral Microbiome in Health and Disease Cell Host & Microbe, 22(3), 269 - 278.e3. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.08.013

Jelenkovic A, Yokoyama Y, Sund R, Pietiläinen KH, Hur Y-M, Willemsen G, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TC, Ooki S, Saudino KJ, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, D’Ippolito C, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Heikkilä K, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJ, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Burt SA, Klump KL, Ordoñana JR, Sánchez-Romera JF, Colodro-Conde L, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Harris JR, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Craig JM, Saffery R, Rasmussen F, Tynelius P, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Haworth CM, Plomin R, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Rebato E, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Boomsma DI, Sørensen TI, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (2017). Association between birthweight and later body mass index: an individual-based pooled analysis of 27 twin cohorts participating in the CODATwins project International Journal of Epidemiology, 46(5), dyx031-. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx031

2016

Knight AK, Craig JM, Theda C, Bækvad-Hansen M, Bybjerg-Grauholm J, Hansen CS, Hollegaard MV, Hougaard DM, Mortensen PB, Weinsheimer SM, Werge TM, Brennan PA, Cubells JF, Newport DJ, Stowe ZN, Cheong JLY, Dalach P, Doyle LW, Loke YJ, Baccarelli AA, Just AC, Wright RO, Téllez-Rojo MM, Svensson K, Trevisi L, Kennedy EM, Binder EB, Iurato S, Czamara D, Räikkönen K, Lahti JMT, Pesonen A-K, Kajantie E, Villa PM, Laivuori H, Hämäläinen E, Park HJ, Bailey LB, Parets SE, Kilaru V, Menon R, Horvath S, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Tylavsky FA, Conneely KN, Smith AK. (2016). An epigenetic clock for gestational age at birth based on blood methylation data Genome Biology, 17(1), 206. DOI: 10.1186/s13059-016-1068-z

Loke YJ, Craig JM. (2016). Are the effects of IVF on DNA methylation driven by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and male infertility? Epigenomics, 8(7), 881 - 884. DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0041

Novakovic B, Napier CE, Vryer R, Dimitriadis E, Manuelpillai U, Sharkey A, Craig JM, Reddel RR, Saffery R. (2016). DNA methylation mediated up-regulation of TERRA non-coding RNA is coincident with elongated telomeres in the human placenta Molecular Human Reproduction, 22(11), 791 - 799. DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw053

Silva MJ, Scurrah KJ, Craig JM, Manton DJ, Kilpatrick N. (2016). Etiology of molar incisor hypomineralization – A systematic review Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology, 44(4), 342 - 353. DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12229

Silventoinen K, Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Hur Y-M, Yokoyama Y, Honda C, Hjelmborg JV, Möller S, Ooki S, Aaltonen S, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Rebato E, Busjahn A, Kandler C, Saudino KJ, Jang KL, Cozen W, Hwang AE, Mack TM, Gao W, Yu C, Li L, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJ, Heikkilä K, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, McAdams TA, Eley TC, Gregory AM, He M, Ding X, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, D'Ippolito C, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Silberg JL, Eaves LJ, Maes HH, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Gatz M, Butler DA, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TC, Craig JM, Saffery R, Freitas DL, Maia JA, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Martin NG, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Chong Y, Swan GE, Krasnow R, Magnusson PK, Pedersen NL, Tynelius P, Lichtenstein P, Haworth CM, Plomin R, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM, Öncel SY, Aliev F, Spector T, Mangino M, Lachance G, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Willemsen G, Rasmussen F, Goldberg JH, Sørensen TI, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J. (2016). Genetic and environmental effects on body mass index from infancy to the onset of adulthood: an individual-based pooled analysis of 45 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins) study 1–3 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 104(2), 371 - 379. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.130252

Temples HS, Willoughby D, Holaday B, Rogers CR, Wueste D, Bridges W, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2016). Breastfeeding and Growth of Children in the Peri/postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS) Journal of Human Lactation, 32(3), 481 - 488. DOI: 10.1177/0890334416637594

Yokoyama Y, Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Sung J, Hopper JL, Ooki S, Heikkilä K, Aaltonen S, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Willemsen G, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TCEM, Saudino KJ, Cutler TL, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, He M, Ding X, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Song Y-M, Yang S, Lee K, Jeong H-U, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Ordoñana JR, Sánchez-Romera JF, Colodro-Conde L, Harris JR, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Craig JM, Saffery R, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Martin NG, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Magnusson PKE, Pedersen NL, Aslan AKD, Tynelius P, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Rebato E, Rose RJ, Goldberg JH, Rasmussen F, Hur Y-M, Sørensen TIA, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (2016). Twin's Birth-Order Differences in Height and Body Mass Index From Birth to Old Age: A Pooled Study of 26 Twin Cohorts Participating in the CODATwins Project Twin Research and Human Genetics, 19(2), 112 - 124. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2016.11

2015

Jelenkovic A, Yokoyama Y, Sund R, Honda C, Bogl LH, Aaltonen S, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Ordoñana JR, Sánchez-Romera JF, Colodro-Conde L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Kandler C, McAdams TA, Eley TC, Gregory AM, Saudino KJ, Dubois L, Boivin M, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Öncel SY, Aliev F, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, D’Ippolito C, Craig JM, Saffery R, Siribaddana SH, Hotopf M, Sumathipala A, Rijsdijk F, Spector T, Mangino M, Lachance G, Gatz M, Butler DA, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Freitas DL, Maia JA, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM, Kim B, Chong Y, Hong C, Shin HJ, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJF, Cozen W, Hwang AE, Mack TM, He M, Ding X, Chang B, Silberg JL, Eaves LJ, Maes HH, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Aujard K, Magnusson PKE, Pedersen NL, Aslan AKD, Song Y-M, Yang S, Lee K, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Heikkilä K, Tan Q, Zhang D, Swan GE, Krasnow R, Jang KL, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Lichtenstein P, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Tynelius P, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ, Ooki S, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Inui F, Watanabe M, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TCEM, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Rebato E, Martin NG, Iwatani Y, Hayakawa K, Sung J, Harris JR, Willemsen G, Busjahn A, Goldberg JH, Rasmussen F, Hur Y-M, Boomsma DI, Sørensen TIA, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (2015). Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project Twin Research and Human Genetics, 18(5), 557 - 570. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.57

Loke YJ, Galati JC, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2015). Association of in vitro fertilization with global and IGF2/H19 methylation variation in newborn twins Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 6(2), 115 - 124. DOI: 10.1017/s2040174415000161

Silventoinen K, Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Honda C, Aaltonen S, Yokoyama Y, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Ning F, Ji F, Pang Z, Ordoñana JR, Sánchez-Romera JF, Colodro-Conde L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Kandler C, McAdams TA, Eley TC, Gregory AM, Saudino KJ, Dubois L, Boivin M, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Öncel SY, Aliev F, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, D’Ippolito C, Craig JM, Saffery R, Siribaddana SH, Hotopf M, Sumathipala A, Spector T, Mangino M, Lachance G, Gatz M, Butler DA, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Freitas DL, Maia JA, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM, Christensen K, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Hong C, Chong Y, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJF, Cozen W, Hwang AE, Mack TM, He M, Ding X, Chang B, Silberg JL, Eaves LJ, Maes HH, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Aujard K, Magnusson PKE, Pedersen NL, Aslan AKD, Song Y-M, Yang S, Lee K, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Heikkilä K, Tan Q, Zhang D, Swan GE, Krasnow R, Jang KL, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Lichtenstein P, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Tynelius P, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ, Ooki S, Brandt I, Nilsen TS, Inui F, Watanabe M, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TCEM, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Rebato E, Martin NG, Iwatani Y, Hayakawa K, Rasmussen F, Sung J, Harris JR, Willemsen G, Busjahn A, Goldberg JH, Boomsma DI, Hur Y-M, Sørensen TIA, Kaprio J. (2015). The CODATwins Project: The Cohort Description of Collaborative Project of Development of Anthropometrical Measures in Twins to Study Macro-Environmental Variation in Genetic and Environmental Effects on Anthropometric Traits Twin Research and Human Genetics, 18(4), 348 - 360. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.29

2014

Joo JE, Novakovic B, Cruickshank M, Doyle LW, Craig JM, Saffery R. (2014). Human active X-specific DNA methylation events showing stability across time and tissues European Journal of Human Genetics, 22(12), 1376 - 1381. DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2014.34

Novakovic B, Ryan J, Pereira N, Boughton B, Craig JM, Saffery R. (2014). Postnatal stability, tissue, and time specific effects of AHRR methylation change in response to maternal smoking in pregnancy Epigenetics, 9(3), 377 - 386. DOI: 10.4161/epi.27248

2013

Loke YJ, Galati JC, Morley R, Joo EJ-H, Novakovic B, Li X, Weinrich B, Carson N, Ollikainen M, Ng H-K, Andronikos R, Aziz NKA, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2013). Association of maternal and nutrient supply line factors with DNA methylation at the imprinted IGF2/H19 locus in multiple tissues of newborn twins Epigenetics, 8(10), 1069 - 1079. DOI: 10.4161/epi.25908

Loke YJ, Novakovic B, Ollikainen M, Wallace EM, Umstad MP, Permezel M, Morley R, Ponsonby A-L, Gordon L, Galati JC, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2013). The Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS) Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16(1), 13 - 20. DOI: 10.1017/thg.2012.114

Martino D, Loke YJ, Gordon L, Ollikainen M, Cruickshank MN, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2013). Longitudinal, genome-scale analysis of DNA methylation in twins from birth to 18 months of age reveals rapid epigenetic change in early life and pair-specific effects of discordance Genome Biology, 14(5), r42. DOI: 10.1186/gb-2013-14-5-r42

2012

Gordon L, Joo JE, Powell JE, Ollikainen M, Novakovic B, Li X, Andronikos R, Cruickshank MN, Conneely KN, Smith AK, Alisch RS, Morley R, Visscher PM, Craig JM, Saffery R. (2012). Neonatal DNA methylation profile in human twins is specified by a complex interplay between intrauterine environmental and genetic factors, subject to tissue-specific influence Genome Research, 22(8), 1395 - 1406. DOI: 10.1101/gr.136598.111

Novakovic B, Galati JC, Chen A, Morley R, Craig JM, Saffery R. (2012). Maternal vitamin D predominates over genetic factors in determining neonatal circulating vitamin D concentrations American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 96(1), 188 - 195. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.112.035683

Saffery R, Morley R, Carlin JB, Joo J-HE, Ollikainen M, Novakovic B, Andronikos R, Li X, Loke YJ, Carson N, Wallace EM, Umstad MP, Permezel M, Galati JC, Craig JM. (2012). Cohort Profile: The Peri/post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study International Journal of Epidemiology, 41(1), 55 - 61. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyr140

2011

Gordon L, Joo J-HE, Andronikos R, Ollikainen M, Wallace EM, Umstad MP, Permezel M, Oshlack A, Morley R, Carlin JB, Saffery R, Smyth GK, Craig JM. (2011). Expression discordance of monozygotic twins at birth: Effect of intrauterine environment and a possible mechanism for fetal programming Epigenetics, 6(5), 579 - 592. DOI: 10.4161/epi.6.5.15072

Novakovic B, Gordon L, Wong NC, Moffett A, Manuelpillai U, Craig JM, Sharkey A, Saffery R. (2011). Wide-ranging DNA methylation differences of primary trophoblast cell populations and derived cell lines: implications and opportunities for understanding trophoblast function Molecular Human Reproduction, 17(6), 344 - 353. DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gar005

Novakovic B, Yuen RK, Gordon L, Penaherrera MS, Sharkey A, Moffett A, Craig JM, Robinson WP, Saffery R. (2011). Evidence for widespread changes in promoter methylation profile in human placenta in response to increasing gestational age and environmental/stochastic factors BMC Genomics, 12(1), 529. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-529

2010

Ng HK, Novakovic B, Hiendleder S, Craig JM, Roberts CT, Saffery R. (2010). Distinct Patterns of Gene-Specific Methylation in Mammalian Placentas: Implications for Placental Evolution and Function Placenta, 31(4), 259 - 268. DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.01.009

Novakovic B, Wong NC, Sibson M, Ng H-K, Morley R, Manuelpillai U, Down T, Rakyan VK, Beck S, Hiendleder S, Roberts CT, Craig JM, Saffery R. (2010). DNA Methylation-mediated Down-regulation of DNA Methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) Is Coincident with, but Not Essential for, Global Hypomethylation in Human Placenta Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(13), 9583 - 9593. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.064956

Ollikainen M, Smith KR, Joo EJ-H, Ng HK, Andronikos R, Novakovic B, Aziz NKA, Carlin JB, Morley R, Saffery R, Craig JM. (2010). DNA methylation analysis of multiple tissues from newborn twins reveals both genetic and intrauterine components to variation in the human neonatal epigenome Human Molecular Genetics, 19(21), 4176 - 4188. DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq336

2009

Novakovic B, Sibson M, Ng HK, Manuelpillai U, Rakyan V, Down T, Beck S, Fournier T, Evain-Brion D, Dimitriadis E, Craig JM, Morley R, Saffery R. (2009). Placenta-specific Methylation of the Vitamin D 24-Hydroxylase Gene IMPLICATIONS FOR FEEDBACK AUTOREGULATION OF ACTIVE VITAMIN D LEVELS AT THE FETOMATERNAL INTERFACE Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284(22), 14838 - 14848. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m809542200

0

Espinoza JL, Harkins DM, Torralba M, Gomez A, Highlander SK, Jones MB, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Kuelbs C, Inman JM, Hughes T, Craig JM, Nelson KE, Dupont CL. (). Supragingival plaque microbiome ecology and functional potential in the context of health and disease . DOI: 10.1101/325407

Freire M, Moustafa A, Harkins DM, Torralba MG, Zhang Y, Leong P, Saffery R, Bockmann M, Kuelbs C, Hughes T, Craig JM, Nelson KE. (). Longitudinal Study of Oral Microbiome Variation in Twins Scientific Reports, 10(1), 7954. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64747-1

Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Hur Y-M, Yokoyama Y, Hjelmborg JVB, Möller S, Honda C, Magnusson PKE, Pedersen NL, Ooki S, Aaltonen S, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, D’Ippolito C, Freitas DL, Maia JA, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Rebato E, Busjahn A, Kandler C, Saudino KJ, Jang KL, Cozen W, Hwang AE, Mack TM, Gao W, Yu C, Li L, Corley RP, Huibregtse BM, Derom CA, Vlietinck RF, Loos RJF, Heikkilä K, Wardle J, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, McAdams TA, Eley TC, Gregory AM, He M, Ding X, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Silberg JL, Eaves LJ, Maes HH, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Gatz M, Butler DA, Bartels M, van Beijsterveldt TCEM, Craig JM, Saffery R, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Martin NG, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Swan GE, Krasnow R, Tynelius P, Lichtenstein P, Haworth CMA, Plomin R, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM, Spector T, Mangino M, Lachance G, Baker LA, Tuvblad C, Duncan GE, Buchwald D, Willemsen G, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Christensen K, Öncel SY, Aliev F, Rasmussen F, Goldberg JH, Sørensen TIA, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (). Genetic and environmental influences on height from infancy to early adulthood: An individual-based pooled analysis of 45 twin cohorts Scientific Reports, 6(1), 28496. DOI: 10.1038/srep28496

Jelenkovic A, Sund R, Yokoyama Y, Hur Y-M, Ullemar V, Almqvist C, Magnusson PK, Willemsen G, Bartels M, Beijsterveldt CEV, Bogl LH, Pietiläinen KH, Vuoksimaa E, Ji F, Ning F, Pang Z, Nelson TL, Whitfield KE, Rebato E, Llewellyn CH, Fisher A, Bayasgalan G, Narandalai D, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Beck-Nielsen H, Sodemann M, Tarnoki AD, Tarnoki DL, Ooki S, Stazi MA, Fagnani C, Brescianini S, Dubois L, Boivin M, Brendgen M, Dionne G, Vitaro F, Cutler TL, Hopper JL, Krueger RF, McGue M, Pahlen S, Craig JM, Saffery R, Haworth CM, Plomin R, Knafo-Noam A, Mankuta D, Abramson L, Burt SA, Klump KL, Vlietinck RF, Derom CA, Loos RJ, Boomsma DI, Sørensen TIA, Kaprio J, Silventoinen K. (). Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts Scientific Reports, 8(1), 6300. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

Li S, Nguyen TL, Wong EM, Dugué P-A, Dite GS, Armstrong NJ, Craig JM, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Saffery R, Sung J, Tan Q, Thalamuthu A, Milne RL, Giles GG, Southey MC, Hopper JL. (). Causes of variation in epigenetic aging across the lifespan . DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.10.20097030

Silva MJ, Kilpatrick NM, Craig JM, Manton DJ, Leong P, Ho H, Saffery R, Burgner DP, Scurrah KJ. (). A twin study of body mass index and dental caries in childhood Scientific Reports, 10(1), 568. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57435-7

Study Contacts
Principal investigator/s Jeffrey Craig
Richard Saffery
Project manager

Jane Loke

Study Contact

Email: twins.study@mcri.edu.au
Address: PETS Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute,
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia