TWIN, SIBLING, AND ADOPTION METHODS - TESTS OF EVOLUTIONARY HYPOTHESES

Twin, sibling, and adoption studies have long been used by behavioral geneticists to identify genetic and environmental influences underlyin g human behavioral and physical variation. The full potential of these methodologies for unraveling the blend of biological, cultural, and e xperiential factors affecting human development has been insufficientl y appreciated. The application of twin, sibling, and adoption designs for examining hypotheses generated by evolutionary theory is described . Potential contributions from a closer association between these disc iplines are underlined.