Twin studies aid in strengthening the correlations between fetal environment, low birth weight, and adult disease. On average, twins have lower than average birth weight as they experience reduction in growth during their third trimester due to limitations in size of the uterus (Vagero & Leon, 1994). Research involving monozygous and dizygous twins has determined that the lighter twin was more likely to develop higher blood pressure and have increased cardiovascular disease risk (Baird, Osmond, MacGregor, Snieder, Hales, & Phillips, 2001). This information suggests that two individuals who experience the same intrauterine environment can have varying birth weights, and those birth weights correlate to a greater incidence of disease. Twin studies
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While the proximate explanation aims to answer the question, “how does low birth weight lead to adult disease?” the ultimate explanation wants to understand “why does low birth weight lead to adult disease?” Although these questions may appear similar, the proximate explanation utilizes biological and chemical processes of the body to understand adult outcomes. In comparison, the ultimate explanation requires an analysis of the evolutionary basis of the correlation and how it benefits the survival of the fittest individuals of a …show more content…
Researchers have uncovered that higher leukocyte levels in the blood lead to increased cytokine counts in circulation (Canoy, Pouta, Ruokonen, Hartikainen, Sakku, & Jarvelin, 2009). Cytokines have the ability to cause endothelial damage in vasculature and to create lesions in the arteries, which both cause a form of cardiovascular disease. The previously mentioned Type II Diabetes thrifty phenotype example is another instance of proximate explanation for disease since diabetes is caused by a decrease in the number of beta cells, which leads to lower insulin levels in the body. Proximate explanations of disease use biological mechanisms to understand the correlation between low birth weight and adult
While the proximate explanation aims to answer the question, “how does low birth weight lead to adult disease?” the ultimate explanation wants to understand “why does low birth weight lead to adult disease?” Although these questions may appear similar, the proximate explanation utilizes biological and chemical processes of the body to understand adult outcomes. In comparison, the ultimate explanation requires an analysis of the evolutionary basis of the correlation and how it benefits the survival of the fittest individuals of a …show more content…
Researchers have uncovered that higher leukocyte levels in the blood lead to increased cytokine counts in circulation (Canoy, Pouta, Ruokonen, Hartikainen, Sakku, & Jarvelin, 2009). Cytokines have the ability to cause endothelial damage in vasculature and to create lesions in the arteries, which both cause a form of cardiovascular disease. The previously mentioned Type II Diabetes thrifty phenotype example is another instance of proximate explanation for disease since diabetes is caused by a decrease in the number of beta cells, which leads to lower insulin levels in the body. Proximate explanations of disease use biological mechanisms to understand the correlation between low birth weight and adult