To examine the familial correlations, heritability (h(2)) and common environmental components (c(2)) of @entity1714 and ocular biometric traits (all treated as continuous outcomes) in families collected through the Genes in @entity1714 (GEM) family study in Australia. A total of 132 pedigrees (723 @entity1 ) were recruited for this study. All individuals completed a risk factor questionnaire and underwent a detailed eye examination including spherical equivalent (SphE) and ocular biometric measurements of @entity3656 ( @entity3656 ), @entity8707 ( @entity8707 ) and @entity2687 ( @entity2687 ). Familial correlations were calculated and h(2) and c(2) were estimated using a variance component model that assumes a multivariate t distribution within each pedigree. Two definitions of common environments (c(2)) were considered: nuclear family (current) shared environment (Model 1) and sib-ship (childhood) shared environment (Model 2). Population ascertainment adjustment was performed using the Blue Mountains eye study dataset. The trends observed for familial correlations suggested that SphE is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors whereas @entity3656 , @entity8707 and @entity2687 are predominantly genetically determined. This was largely confirmed by variance components modelling. Heritability estimates (adjusted for age, sex and years of education) from the best fitting ACE model (Model 2, childhood shared environment) were 0.50 +/- 0.05 for SphE, 0.73 +/- 0.04 for @entity3656 , 0.78 +/- 0.04 for @entity8707 and 0.16 +/- 0.06 for @entity2687 . Childhood environmental effects were significant with c(2) estimated to be 0.33 +/- 0.04 for SphE, 0.06 +/- 0.03 for @entity3656 , 0.22 +/- 0.04 for @entity8707 and 0.10 +/- 0.05 for @entity2687 . Age was associated with SphE, total years of education was associated with @entity3656 and sex was associated with all traits studied. We used a novel and conservative approach to account for and estimate common environmental effects by specifying either nuclear family or sib-ship environment when estimating heritability estimates and showed that all traits examined (SphE, @entity3656 , @entity8707 and @entity2687 ) are heritable, thus reflecting a genetic component. These traits therefore all represent candidates for quantitative trait linkage analyses.

Heritability and shared environment estimates for @entity1714 and associated ocular biometric traits: the Genes in XXXX (GEM) family study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants'] @entity3656 :: ('MESH:D007870', 'Disease') :: ['AL', 'axial length'] @entity8707 :: ('MESH:C535679', 'Disease') :: ['ACD', 'anterior chamber depth'] @entity2687 :: ('MESH:D003316', 'Disease') :: ['corneal curvature', 'CC'] @entity1714 :: ('MESH:D009216', 'Disease') :: ['Myopia', 'myopia']
@entity1714 :: (MESH:D009216,Disease) :: ['Myopia']
