Poor turnout of twins hits study

Straits Times, 1 July 2006

IT is a pity that researchers on the study of twins were unable to carry on with their initial plan of studying on the genetic and environmental causes of common disorders of twins aged 17 and below, living in Singapore. The study which began 3 yrs ago required 5000 pairs of twins but because recruitment was passed through word of mouth, the media, letters to schools and the hassle of asking permission from parents, only 159 pairs and 2 sets of triplets signed up. As they had no access to the registry of births it has been really difficult for these researches. This study might find resons to why and how twins and triplets get common diseases and disorders like asthma, myopia, and see whether it is caused by the genes or the environment. Iam very encouraged that as technoly and science advanced, more diseases and disorders have have cures. This will definitely ease the stress parenst have over their ill-fated children. I encourage twins and triplets to email twins@nus.edu.sg or call 64789901 to help the Biomedical Research council.