Epigenetics

Question 1

Epigenetics

Answer 1

The study of how the environment and other factors can change the way that genes are expressed
* argues that for a behaviour to occur, genes must be expressed - this is a complex chemical reaction to environmental or physiological changes that allow a gene to “do its job”

Question 2

Main ideas of epigenetics

Answer 2

Environmental factors such as stress, exercise or diet may result in genetic expression or its lack of
* means individuals may have a gene that could lead to a behaviour but if the gene is never expressed, this behaviour will not occur

Question 3

Epigenetics connection to family studies

Answer 3

• identical twins are born with the same genetic code, but this appears to be different over time as a result of diet and stress - DNA is the same, but the way the genes are “expressed” is different.
• changes can be passed down to the next generation
• shows that genes are not “deterministic”

Question 4

Diathesis-stress model

Answer 4

Used in the study of abnormal behavior to explain the origins of depression
* suggests that depression results from the interaction between a genetic predisposition and environmental stress
* most significant of these stressors are ACEs (adverse childhood experiences)
* explains why not everyone develops depression after traumatic childhood even if a sibling does
* highlights complexity of issue - no simple cause and effect relationship

Question 5

Equation for epigenetics and depression

Answer 5

genetic predisposition + environmental stressors = depressive reaction