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Illustrates a trait which shows increased similarity among couples (given by the blue trait); however, this assortment is only observed because of a causal effect () that exists between another trait (shown in red) acting on the blue trait. For example, if direct assortment occurs under a trait such as BMI (that is, couples intentionally select partners of similar BMI as themselves), phenotypic correlation will also be observed at all traits which have a causal effect on BMI, such as blood pressure, fasting glucose and so on.

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