How can twins explain the effects of heredity and environment?

Family and siblings play a large part in shaping us as unique individuals. But what if you were separated from your biological other half? As far-fetched as they might seem, the stories are often true and always fascinating: twins separated at birth, reunited in adulthood. What does their experience reveal about heredity and environment?

Award-winning researcher Nancy L. Segal, founder of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton in 1991, is a nationally recognized expert on such questions. The behavioral geneticist and evolutionary psychologist examined the nature vs. nurture argument in a lecture hosted by CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences as part of the distinguished Richard W. Smith Lecture Series.

In addition to three books on twins, including most recently “Born Together–Reared Apart: The Landmark Minnesota Twin Study” (2012), Segal has authored approximately 120 scientific articles and book chapters and is a frequent media guest.

And yes, in case you were wondering, Segal is herself a twin!

For more: CSUN’s Smith Lecture to Explore Twins Born Together, but Reared Apart [CSUN Media Releases]

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Events, Lectures