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Cross-fostering experiments in mammals have elucidated genetic and epigenetic influences on offspring behaviors. Because in vitro fertilization (IVF) is increasingly common and involves various combinations of biologically related or unrelated gametes and gestational parenting, researchers can now examine comparable paradigms in humans.
These researchers examined maternal prenatal smoking, child antisocial behaviors, and low birth weight in 779 IVF offspring (age range, 4–10 years); 574 children were related to their gestational mothers (“related pregnancies”) and 205 were not (“unrelated pregnancies”). Nineteen clinics were in the U.K.; 1 was in the U.S. Prenatal smoking and childhood antisocial behaviors were ascertained through mailed-in …