Biological Approach: Genetics & Behaviour

Question 1

Behavioural Genetics

Answer 1

About how both genetics and environment contribute to individual variations in human behaviour

Question 2

Monozygotic Twins (MZ twins)

Answer 2

Develop from one fertilised egg, which splits and forms two embryos, genetically identical, same sex (identical)

Question 3

Dizygotic Twins (DZ twins)

Answer 3

Develop from two different fertilised eggs, approx. 50% similarity in genes, not always same-sex (fraternal)

Question 4

Epigenetics

Answer 4

Refers to gene-environment interaction and for a behaviour to occur, genes must be “expressed.” An individual may have a gene that could lead to a behaviour, but if the gene is never expressed, then this behaviour will not occur

Question 5

Genetic expression

Answer 5

A complex chemical reaction to environmental or physiological changes that allow a gene to “do its job”

Question 6

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 6

Grounded in theory that as genes mutate, those that are advantageous are passed down, facilitated by natural selection

Question 7

Natural Selection

Answer 7

Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring