Abstract
A bivariate path model which incorporates measures of phenotypic assortative and cross-assortative mating is formulated for the analysis of familial resemblance for two characters in nuclear families (parents and at least one child). The model facilitates the partitioning of phenotypic variances for the two characters and their covariance into components due to transmissible familial (genetic and/or family environmental) influences and specific, nontransmissible environmental influences. The model is applied to the joint transmission of reading ability and symbol processing speed in families with a reading-disabled child and in those with children of normal reading ability. Although the model is not adequate to explain data on families with a reading-disabled child, it provides an acceptable fit to the data on control families, and parameter estimates obtained for the two data sets are very similar. Familial sources of variation are important for both reading ability and symbol processing speed, and more than half of the phenotypic correlation between the two variables is due to familial influences.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, L. A. (1983). Familial contributions to the correlation between height and general intelligence.Behav. Genet. 13:526 (abstr.).
Bock, R. D., and Vandenberg, S. G. (1968). Components of heritable variation in mental test scores. In Vandenberg, S. G. (ed.),Progress in Human Behavior Genetics, Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, pp. 233–260.
CERN (1977).MINUIT: A System for Function Minimization and Analysis of the Parameter Errors and Correlations, CERN, Geneva.
Decker, S. N., and DeFries, J. C. (1980). Cognitive abilities in families with reading disabled children.J. Learn. Disabil. 13:517–522.
DeFries, J. C., and Decker, S. N. (1982). Genetic aspects of reading disability: A family study. In Malatesha, R. N., and Aaron, P. G. (eds.),Reading Disorders: Varieties and Treatments, Academic Press, New York, pp. 255–279.
DeFries, J. C., Singer, S. M., Foch, T. T., and Lewitter, F. I. (1978). Familial nature of reading disability.Br. J. Psychiat. 132:361–367.
DeFries, J. C., Kuse, A. R., and Vandenberg, S. G. (1979). Genetic correlations, environmental correlations, and behavior. In Royce, J. R., and Mos, L. P. (eds.),Theoretical Advances in Behavior Genetics, Sijthoff and Noordhoff, Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, pp. 389–421.
Dunn, L. M., and Markwardt, F. C. (1970).Examiner's Manual: Peabody Individual Achievement Test, American Guidance Service, Circle Pines, Minn.
Finucci, J. M. (1978). Genetic considerations in dyslexia. In Myklebust, H. R. (ed.),Progress in Learning Disabilities, Vol. IV, Grune and Stratton, New York, pp. 41–63.
Foch, T. T., DeFries, J. C., McClearn, G. E., and Singer, S. M. (1977). Familial patterns of impairment in reading disability.J. Educ. Psychol. 69:316–329.
Horn, J. M., Loehlin, J. C., and Willerman, L. (1982). Aspects of the inheritance of intellectual abilities.Behav. Genet. 12:479–516.
Jöreskog, K. G. (1973). Analysis of covariance structures. In Krishnaiah, P. E. (ed.),Multivariate Analysis III, Academic Press, New York, pp. 263–285.
Jöreskog, K. G., and Sörbom, D. (1981).LISREL V: Analysis of Linear Structural Relationships by the Method of Maximum Likelihood, International Fducational Services, Chicago.
Lewitter, F. I., DeFries, J. C., and Elston, R. C. (1980). Genetic models of reading disability.Behav. Genet. 10:9–30.
Loehlin, J. C., and Vandenberg, S. G. (1968). Genetic and environmental components in the covariation of cognitive abilities: An additive model. In Vandenberg, S. G. (ed.),Progress in Human Behavior Genetics, Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, pp. 261–286.
Martin, N. G., and Eaves, L. J. (1977). The genetical analysis of covariance structure.Heredity 38:79–95.
McGue, M. (1983). Bivariate path analysis of plasma lipids.Hum. Hered. 33:145–152.
McGue, M., Rao, D. C., Reich, T., Laskarzewski, P., Glueck, C. J., and Russell, J. M. (1983). The Cincinnati Lipid Research Clinic Family Study: Bivariate path analysis of lipoprotein concentrations.Genet. Res. 41:117–135.
Neale, M. C., and Fulker, D. W. (1983). Bivariate biometric analysis of fear data obtained from twins and their parents.Behav. Genet. 13:546 (abstr.).
Neale, M. C., and Fulker, D. W. (1984). A bivariate path analysis of fear data on twins and their parents.Acta Genet. Med. Gemel. 33:273–286.
Rice, J., Cloninger, C. R., and Reich, T. (1978). Multifactorial inheritance with cultural transmission and assortative mating. I. Description and basic properties of the unitary models.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 30:618–643.
Rice, J., Cloninger, C. R., and Reich, T. (1980). Analysis of behavioral traits in the presence of cultural transmission and assortative mating: Applications to IQ and SES.Behav. Genet. 10:73–92.
Vandenberg, S. G. (1965). Innate abilities, one or many? A new method and some results.Acta Genet. Med. Gemel. 14:41–47.
Vandenberg, S. G., and Vogler, G. P. (1985). Genetic determinants of intelligence. In Wolman, B. B. (ed.),Handbook of Intelligence, John Wiley & Sons, New York (in press).
Vogler, G. P., and DeFries, J. C. (1983). A three-generational bivariate analysis of educational attainment and general intelligence.Behav. Genet. 13:556 (abstr.).
Wechsler, D. I. (1949).Examiner's Manual: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, The Psychological Corporation, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported in part by grants from the Spencer Foundation and NICHD (HD-11681) to J. C. DeFries.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vogler, G.P., DeFries, J.C. Bivariate path analysis of familial resemblance for reading ability and symbol processing speed. Behav Genet 15, 111–121 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065892
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065892