Behavioural Genetics

Question 1

An estimate of how much variance in some characteristic within some population is due to?

Answer 1

Heredity

Question 2

How much does heritability vary?

Answer 2

Between 0 and 1

Question 3

If a trait was completely heritable what would twins score?

Answer 3

The exact same

Question 4

One problem with just looking at twins?

Answer 4

In modern studies they might not have been reared apart

Question 5

How is heritability calculated?

Answer 5

Comparing the correlation coefficients of identical and non-identical twins for a particular trait

Question 6

V___
A___
C___
E___

Answer 6

Variance of the trait
Genetic component
Common environment (anything in the enviro that makes traits similar)
“non-shared” Environment (anything in the enviro that makes traits disimilar)

Question 7

The heritability is ___ the difference between the correlations for identical minus non-identical twins

Answer 7

Twice

Question 8

Does environment play a role in heritability?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

When does the heritability of general cognitive abilities increase?

Answer 9

Childhood to young adulthood

Question 10

What is the multiplier effect?

Answer 10

Complexity with heritability.
If genetic or prenatal influences produce an increase in some activity, the early tendency will change the environment in a way that magnifies that tendency

Question 11

Name 4 things that make things genetic

Answer 11

Risk taking
Taking any substance
Addictive personality
Anti-social peer group

Question 12

If a group of individuals share a highly similar environment. what effect does this have on the heritability estimate of a characteristic?

Answer 12

Heritability estimate will be high

Question 13

What can’t behavioural genetics tell us?

Answer 13

About the individual

Question 14

What is an allele?

Answer 14

Variant form of a gene

Question 15

What is heterozygous?

Answer 15

Having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes

Question 16

What is homozygous?

Answer 16

Having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes

Question 17

How are genes transcribed into proteins?

Answer 17

mRNA

Question 18

What did Mendel discover?

Answer 18

Patterns of inheritence

Question 19

Explain Mendel’s patterns of inheritance

Answer 19

Phenotype – trait e.g. yellow versus green
Genetotype – genetic material (e.g. GG)
Allele – different forms of a gene that control the same trait (G versus y)
Heterozygous: Gy
Homozygous: GG or yy
G is dominant to y
y is recessive to G

Question 20

What method can be used to calculate the patterns of inheritance?

Answer 20

Punit square

Question 21

Chromosomes are made of ____

Answer 21

DNA

Question 22

Name 2 things DNA does

Answer 22

1. Replicates (cells or babies)

2. Makes proteins

Question 23

5-HTP

Answer 23

Serotonin

Question 24

What did Zhang find?

depressed patients study

Answer 24

Mutant form seems to result in mental health problems
but…
people can be clinically depressed without this mutant form

Question 25

What can the short form of gene be linked to? and how can we solve if it is?

Answer 25

Depression

Brain scanner

Question 26

What does the short for of the serotonin transporter gene do?

Answer 26

• makes the brain over-respond to negative emotions
• risk factor for depression? if not…
• environment

Question 27

If you have the risk factor gene and become stressed what will happen?

Answer 27

Become depressed

Question 28

Depressive symptoms...
The number of stress full life events: non significant 
Genotype: non significant 
Interaction: highly significant!
Who found this?

Answer 28

Caspi et al 2003

Question 29

Guess a gene: Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptor α4 Subunit Gene

Answer 29

Nicotine and addiction in general

Question 30

Guess a gene: GABRA2

Answer 30

Conduct disorder

Question 31

Guess a gene: DAT1

Answer 31

Cocaine, ADHD, sz