Behavior and Genetics

Question 1

Temperament vs Heredity vs Genes

Answer 1

1. Temperament: These are characteristics that we are born with that helps to define our unique characters. Tells us how we respond to the outer world and relate to it as individuals. Example: you get angry fast or not
2. Heredity: passing traits from parents/ ancestors to offspring through genes
3. Personality: is a combination of characteristic that forms an individual’s distinctive character.

Question 2

What are the studies that are important in behaviour for nature and nurture

Answer 2

Study 1: Twin studies and environmental studies.

• Monozygotic: egg split in 2
• Dizygotic: 2 separated eggs developed

Using these studies to determine what causes schizophrenia?

1. Nature: genes
2. Nurture: environment

Twin studies can be used to see if the disease is caused by nature or nurture via seeing the rate of the disease spreading on twins.

Problem with this study: identical twins can be treated more similarly than fraternal twins

Study 2: adoption studies

An adopted child is compared to their biological family and adopted family to see if things are natural or nurtured.

Question 3

Heritability

Answer 3

• variability of traits can be attributed to differences in genes

Question 4

Gene-Environment Interaction

Answer 4

• The environment can trigger the activation of certain genes, certain genes can be expressed only when needed by the environment
• Or the environment can help balance certain genes such as diet.

Question 5

What are regulatory genes?

Answer 5

• Epigenetics: our environment can cause changes in our gene expression through its regulation i.e methyl regulations that enable gene expression

Question 6

What is the adaptive value of Behavioral traits?

Answer 6

• Homeostasis mechanism: Behavior is really the maintenance of a constant internal mechanism, coordinate internal and external response of an organism to maintain that constant (adaptation)
• Ethology: field of study that focuses on animal behavior in the natural environment
  
  • Overt behaviour: observable behaviour within the field of ethology
    
    • Innate: genetically program behavior
      
      • Inherited: DNA
      • Intrinsic: in you no matter what ( needing to poop)
      • Stereotypic: performed the same way each time
      • Inflexible: not changed by experiment
      • consummate: develop right away on first try
    • Learned:
      
      • Non-inherited: acquired only via observation
      • Extinsic: abscent in isolation
      • Permeable: changes
      • Adaptable: can change with conditions
      • Progressive: improves overtime
    • complex: behavior can be a spectrum