Behavioral Genetics

Question 1

What do genes contain instructions for?

Answer 1

For making proteins you make at the right place / time

Question 2

Overall, is the blueprint for a brain conserved across evolution?

Answer 2

Yes, but small differences can have big effects (humans share 98% DNA with chimpanzee)

Question 3

What is a genotype? What is a phenotype?

Answer 3

Genotype: The sequence of letters that is in your own genome; mostly inherited from parents
Phenotype: A measurable trait such as weight, height, how high you can jump, how much you can eat in a single sitting

Question 4

Do genes work in isolation?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

How do genes, phenotypes, and environments interact?

Answer 5

Our environment has a large impact on if the genotype will impact the phenotype

Question 6

What is epigenetics?

Answer 6

DNA needs to be opened up to be “read” only when it is needed, and closed up when it is not; can be affected by environment

Question 7

What is heritability?

Answer 7

How much a phenotype is inherited due to genetic factors.

More than just your genotype; reflects environment and the environments of our family members

Question 8

What do twin studies show about the heritability of phenotypes?

Answer 8

Measure the genetic contribution of behavioral traits in humans
Many phenotypes are heritable, and more heritable in monozygotic

Question 9

Are differences in “success” or widely desired behavioral traits heritable (e.g., reading scores)?

Answer 9

No

Question 10

Why can we not make accurate predictions about a phenotype based on genotype?

Answer 10

Environment can play a big role in phenotypes