Adoption Studies

Abstract

Adoption studies are one form of clinical genetic study designed to evaluate genetic and environmental influences on phenotype. In adoption studies the index cases and controls are adoptees. The adoption study design provides a unique opportunity to examine gene and gene by environment interactions for a variety of behavioural, psychiatric and medical disorders. Adoption genetic studies provide some challenges related to the issues related to adoption (atypical biological parent profiles, differences in adoptive parents compared to nonadoptive parents and the stress of learning about being an adoptee). Recently, molecular genetic strategies have been applied to samples of adoptees. Advancing privacy issues have made it more difficult to design and carry out adoption research.

Key Concepts:

• Adoption studies provide a unique research model where biological genetic effects can be estimated.

• Adoption studies can be helpful in uncovering gene–environment interactions in complex behavioural and psychiatric disorders.

• Adoption genetic studies utilise a variety of statistical techniques including calculation of odds ratios, logistic regression, log-linear statistical monitoring and path analysis.

• Recent advances in adoption study research have occurred by combining molecular genetic techniques to the genetic and environmental data of adoptees.

• Increased privacy concerns and privacy laws related to biological parent anonymity have made adoption studies more difficult to design and implement.