[jrapdx3]

In studies of monozygotic twins (shared genetic predisposition), typically the twins were raised in different environments (adoption, etc.). If behavior among the twins is divergent then environmental factors are likely predominant. OTOH if concordance of traits is strongly evident, behavior is attributable to genetic factors.

[doright]

My understanding is that separating children from their biological parents has wide-reaching consequences, even if done in a non-traumatic way, and even if they are ultimately raised by a different set of parents. I would imagine the trauma originating from having to be adopted could be a uniquely triggering factor for genetic predisposition in the case of only one of the twins. How would twin studies be able to account for that?

[rendx]

I agree. Also, the prenatal environment (9 months of development!) and circumstances of birth, which both twins share, is not accounted for at all. Or rather, it is accounted for as "heritability" by twin studies, which is plainly wrong.

https://williamjbarry.substack.com/p/the-first-1000-days

[verteu]

No need for family separation. You simply compare the correlation between monozygotic ("identical") twins vs dizygotic ("non-identical") twins.

For example, monozygotic twins will always have the same eye color (99+% correlation), while dizygotic twins do not. Thus we can conclude eye color is genetic. Both twins are raised by their respective parents, so it's unlikely parenting is causing this difference in eye-color-correlation.