Week 1 - Genetic influences on human behavior

Question 1

1. Genetic control and influence of normal behavior is complex because

Answer 1

• it takes many genes functioning normally to produce normal behavior, but abnormality can often be caused by dysfunction of a single gene

Question 2

Types of genetic influences:

Answer 2

2. Down syndrome
3. Huntington’s disease
4. Alzheimer’s
5. Serotonin transporter gene
6. Otosclerosis – hearing impairment
7. Multiple exostoses – benign bone tumors
8. Neurofibromatosis – tumors of nervous system and skin
9. Cystic fibrosis – abnormal transport chloride and sodium effecting lungs most critically

Question 3

10. Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Answer 3

• recessive X-linked abnormality
• effects primarily boys
• muscle degeneration and death with average life expectancy of 25

Question 4

Fragile X

Answer 4

• most common form of inherited intellectual disability in boys
• can occur in girls but more common in boys
• portion of X chromosome is repeated
• codes for a protein critical for brain development