The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies

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Twin Research and Human Genetics

Twin Research and Human Genetics 01 June 2010 13 : pp 231-245
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1375/twin.13.3.231 (About DOI)
Published online: 21 February 2012

Table of Contents - 01 June 2010 - Volume 13, Issue 03

Articles

The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies

Article author query
willemsen g [Google Scholar]
de geus ejc [Google Scholar]
bartels m [Google Scholar]
van beijsterveldt cem [Google Scholar]
brooks ai [Google Scholar]
estourgie-van burk gf [Google Scholar]
fugman da [Google Scholar]
hoekstra c [Google Scholar]
hottenga jj [Google Scholar]
kluft k [Google Scholar]
meijer p [Google Scholar]
montgomery gw [Google Scholar]
rizzu p [Google Scholar]
sondervan d [Google Scholar]
smit ab [Google Scholar]
spijker s [Google Scholar]
suchiman hed [Google Scholar]
tischfield ja [Google Scholar]
lehner t [Google Scholar]
slagboom pe [Google Scholar]
boomsma di [Google Scholar]

Gonneke Willemsen^a1 ^c1, Eco J. C. de Geus^a2, Meike Bartels^a3, C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt^a4, Andy I. Brooks^a5, G. Frederique Estourgie-van Burk^a6, Douglas A. Fugman^a7, Chantal Hoekstra^a8, Jouke-Jan Hottenga^a9, Kees Kluft^a10, Piet Meijer^a11, Grant W. Montgomery^a12, Patrizia Rizzu^a13, David Sondervan^a14, August B. Smit^a15, Sabine Spijker^a16, H. Eka D. Suchiman^a17, Jay A. Tischfield^a18, Thomas Lehner^a19, P. Eline Slagboom^a20 and Dorret I. Boomsma^a21

^a1Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. ahm.willemsen@psy.vu.nl

^a2Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a3Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a4Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a5Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository, Rutgers University, Department of Genetics, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America.

^a6Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a7Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository, Rutgers University, Department of Genetics, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America.

^a8Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a9Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a10Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-Quality of Life, Biomedical Research, Leiden, Netherlands; Good Biomarker Sciences, Leiden, Netherlands.

^a11Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-Quality of Life, Biomedical Research, Leiden, Netherlands; Good Biomarker Sciences, Leiden, Netherlands.

^a12Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia.

^a13Department of Clinical Genetics, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a14Department of Clinical Genetics, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a15Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a16Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

^a17Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands.

^a18Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository, Rutgers University, Department of Genetics, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America.

^a19Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America.

^a20Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands.

^a21Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Abstract

In 2004 the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) started a large scale biological sample collection in twin families to create a resource for genetic studies on health, lifestyle and personality. Between January 2004 and July 2008, adult participants from NTR research projects were invited into the study. During a home visit between 7:00 and 10:00 am, fasting blood and morning urine samples were collected. Fertile women were bled on day 2–4 of the menstrual cycle, or in their pill-free week. Biological samples were collected for DNA isolation, gene expression studies, creation of cell lines and for biomarker assessment. At the time of blood sampling, additional phenotypic information concerning health, medication use, body composition and smoking was collected. Of the participants contacted, 69% participated. Blood and urine samples were collected in 9,530 participants (63% female, average age 44.4 (SD 15.5) years) from 3,477 families. Lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HbA1c, haematology, CRP, fibrinogen, liver enzymes and creatinine have been assessed. Longitudinal survey data on health, personality and lifestyle are currently available for 90% of all participants. Genome-wide SNP data are available for 3,524 participants, with additional genotyping ongoing. The NTR biobank, combined with the extensive phenotypic information available within the NTR, provides a valuable resource for the study of genetic determinants of individual differences in mental and physical health. It offers opportunities for DNA-based and gene expression studies as well as for future metabolomic and proteomic projects.

(Received March 23 2010)

(Accepted April 12 2010)

Keywords

DNA;
RNA;
GWAS;
mental health;
physical health

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for correspondence: Gonneke Willemsen, Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, The Netherlands.

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<div style="background: #FFFFFF; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; padding: 0 10px 0 0; text-align: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1em;"><div style="font-size: 11px; padding: 0px 0px 10px 0px; font-weight:bold; color: #045989;">The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies</div><div style="font-size: 11px;"><b>				
					 
					
						 
					
				Gonneke Willemsen,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Eco J. C. de Geus,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Meike Bartels,				
					 
					
						 
					
				C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Andy I. Brooks,				
					 
					
						 
					
				G. Frederique Estourgie-van Burk,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Douglas A. Fugman,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Chantal Hoekstra,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Jouke-Jan Hottenga,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Kees Kluft,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Piet Meijer,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Grant W. Montgomery,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Patrizia Rizzu,				
					 
					
						 
					
				David Sondervan,				
					 
					
						 
					
				August B. Smit,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Sabine Spijker,				
					 
					
						 
					
				H. Eka D. Suchiman,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Jay A. Tischfield,				
					 
					
						 
					
				Thomas Lehner,				
					 
					
						 
					
				P. Eline Slagboom				
					 
					
						 
					
				 and Dorret I. Boomsma (2010).</b><br />
<a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=THG">Twin Research and Human Genetics</a>, <a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=THG&volumeId=13&bVolume=y#loc13>

">Volume 13</a>, 
<a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=THG&volumeId=13&issueId=03&seriesId=0"> Issue 03</a>, June 2010 pp 231-245 <br/>
<a href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=8492740">http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=8492740</a></div></div>

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The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies

Gonneke Willemsen, Eco J. C. de Geus, Meike Bartels, C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt, Andy I. Brooks, G. Frederique Estourgie-van Burk, Douglas A. Fugman, Chantal Hoekstra, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Kees Kluft, Piet Meijer, Grant W. Montgomery, Patrizia Rizzu, David Sondervan, August B. Smit, Sabine Spijker, H. Eka D. Suchiman, Jay A. Tischfield, Thomas Lehner, P. Eline Slagboom and Dorret I. Boomsma (2010)
Twin Research and Human Genetics, , Volume 13, Issue 03 , June 2010 pp 231-245
http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S183242740001063X

Gonneke Willemsen, Eco J. C. de Geus, Meike Bartels, C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt, Andy I. Brooks, G. Frederique Estourgie-van Burk, Douglas A. Fugman, Chantal Hoekstra, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Kees Kluft, Piet Meijer, Grant W. Montgomery, Patrizia Rizzu, David Sondervan, August B. Smit, Sabine Spijker, H. Eka D. Suchiman, Jay A. Tischfield, Thomas Lehner, P. Eline Slagboom and Dorret I. Boomsma (2010). The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 13 , pp 231-245 doi:10.1375/twin.13.3.231

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The Netherlands Twin Register Biobank: A Resource for Genetic Epidemiological Studies