Module 14: Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences

Question 1

Behavior Genetics

Answer 1

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

EVERY external influence! (including prenatal nutrition - and the people and things that surround us

Question 3

Chromosomes

Answer 3

Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

Question 4

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 4

Complex molecule that contains the genetic information

- DNA makes up chromosomes

Question 5

Genes

Answer 5

• biochemical units of heredity

- composed of segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

Question 6

Genome

Answer 6

The complete instructions for making an organism

- consist of genetic materials that are in the organism’s chromosomes

Question 7

What do behavior geneticist study?

Answer 7

They study the differences, effects, & interplay of heredity and the environment

Question 8

How many chromosomes do we have? How many come from the egg? From the sperm?

Answer 8

46 chromosomes total
23 mother’s egg
23 father’s sperm

Question 9

How many genes to people have?

Answer 9

Between 20,000-25,000 genes

Question 10

What are the two types of genes?

Answer 10

expressed (active) or inactive genes

Question 11

What “turn on” genes? What happens as a result?

Answer 11

The environment turns on genes. Those genes provide the code for creating protein molecules (body’s building blocks)

Question 12

Is a trait influenced by a single gene?

Answer 12

No, Traits are influenced by many genes

Note: Complex traits such as intelligence, happiness, aggressiveness, etc., are influenced by groups of genes

Question 13

What helps explain both our shared human nature and our human diversity?

Answer 13

Our genetic predispositions/ our genetically influenced traits

Question 14

Monozygotic (Identical Twins)

Answer 14

• one fertilized egg that splits

- two genetically identical organisms

Question 15

Dizygotic (Fraternal Twins)

Answer 15

• two fertilized egg
• share the SAME fetal environment
• genetically simular as other siblings

Question 16

True or False: Identical twins don’t always have the same number of copies of those genes

Answer 16

True: Helps explain why one twin may be more at risk for certain illnesses

Question 17

What could be a cause of differences between identical twins?

Answer 17

Having different placentas

• 1 out of every 3 pairs of twins have separate placentas
• one may receive more nourishment than the other

Not having the same number of copies

Question 18

True or False: Identical twins are not more similar on extroversion & neuroticisms (emotional stability) scales than fraternal twins

Answer 18

False

Identical twins are more similar on extroversion and neuroticism

Question 19

True or False: Studies have shown that identical twins whose parents treated them alike were NOT psychologically more alike than identical twins who were treated less similarly

Answer 19

True

Identical twins are not psychologically more alike even if the parents treated them similarly

Question 20

What are some attributes that seperated twins share?

Answer 20

• similar taste, physical attributes, personality (characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, & acting), ability, attitude, interest & fears
• brain waves & speech inflection are similar

Note: validity is questioned because adoption agencies try to place twins in similar environments

Question 21

Genetic Relatives

Answer 21

Biological parents & siblings

Question 22

Environmental Relatives

Answer 22

Adoptive parents & siblings

Question 23

Are people who grew up together (related or not) more alike in regards to personality?

Answer 23

No

People who grew up together, related or not, do not resemble one another in personality

Question 24

Are adoptees more like their biological or adoptive parents?

Answer 24

Adoptees are more similar to biological parents in regards to agreeableness & extroversion

Question 25

Do parents influence children’s attitude, values, manners, faith, and politics?

Answer 25

yes parents do influence children’s attitude, values, manners, faith, and politics.

Question 26

Molecular Genetics

Answer 26

• subfield of biology

- studies molecular structures & functions of genes

Question 27

What is the goal of molecular geneticist?

Answer 27

The goal is to find some of the genes that work to form traits (body weight, extraversion, sexual orientation, etc._

Question 28

What can genetic test do?

Answer 28

Genetic test can pinpoint and aid in identifying people with genes that put them at risk of genetically influenced disorders (learning disorders, depression, schizophrenia , alcohol use disorder)

Question 29

What is a problem of identify genes?

Answer 29

Moral issue: people could try to genetically modify their children

• can cause discrimination issues
• could result in the loss of other traits ex. Schizophrenia linked with creativity

Question 30

Heritability

Answer 30

The portion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

The EXTENT to which differences among people are attributed to genes

Remember heritability of a trait varies depending on the range of the population and the environment

Question 31

What is something to remember when measuring a person’s ______ ? (extroversions for example)

Answer 31

Putting people in a new social context can change their ______ (extroversion in this example)

Question 32

REMEBER

Answer 32

“Genes & environment - nature & nurture - work together like two hands clapping. Genes are self -regulating”

Question 33

True or False: An effect of an environment can not also be an adaptation

Answer 33

False
An effect of an environment CAN also be an adaptation
example: calloused feet - tough environment

Question 34

Interaction

Answer 34

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor
ex: effect of one factor (environment) depends on another (heredity)

Question 35

Epigenetic

Answer 35

The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occurs WITHOUT a change in DNA

Question 36

What blocks gene expression?

Answer 36

Epigenetic molecules

Question 37

What can effect how a child remembers their childhood?

Answer 37

Evocative interactions affect how children remember their childhood. For instance how their parents treated them

*not all that + about this one

Question 38

Epigenetic Mark

Answer 38

An organic methyl molecule attached to part of a DNA strained
- effects could last over lifetimes

Question 39

What can affect the epigenetic molecules that regulate gene expression?

Answer 39

Diet, drugs, & stress

Question 40

Heredity (nature)

Answer 40

genetic transfer of characteristics to offspring from parent

Question 41

Human Genome

Answer 41

the complete instructions for humans that all humans (genome); there is a common sequence within human DNA (human)

Question 42

If the differences to an environment decrease what happens to the heritability? Why?

Answer 42

The heritability would increase because any difference noticed we be a result of their genes not their environment

Question 43

Molecular Behavior Genetics

Answer 43

The further study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior.