Biological Explanation - Genetics Flashcards
What do we mean by Genes?
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity , they make up our DNA
What did Rosenthal (1963) study on the Genain quadruplets suggest?
There is a genetic element in developing Schizophrenia as all 4 quadruplets were diagnosed with SCZ
What else may have contributed towards the Genain quadruplets contracting Schizophrenia?
They had a terrible and unstable home life
What does MZ twin mean?
Monozygotic/identical twins , meaning they are from the same egg and same sperm and share 100% of their DNA
What does DZ twins stand for?
Dizygotic twins , meaning that the twins are made from two different eggs and two diffrent sperms , and share about 25% of their DNA
What rate of concordance did Gotesman (1991) find between MZ twins and Schizophrenia?
A concordance rate of 48%
What are two weaknesses of twin studies?
They dont separate nature and nurture , cause is unknown
Cant establish cause and effect as its an observation
How does a family study difffer from a twin study?
It has a larger degree of concordance as there is more participants involved
How did Gottesman (1991) used family studies to support the genetic side of Schizophrenia?
The degree of concordance that he found suggested that gentics had a clear influence on risk of Schizophrenia
What advantage do adoption studies have other the other two?
They seperate the effects of genes and environment
What does Tienari et al (2000) suggest about genetics having a key part to play in Schizophrenia?
6.7 % of kids in care who had SCZ mothers contracted SCZ , suggesting that genetics still have a part to play
What are the four points of evaluation for genetics role in Schizophrenia?
Its had very small samples
Its Determinst- not everyone will end up SCZ
Its Reductionist - ignores social factors
Its Nomothetic - ignores the experience of SCZ people
What does Epigenetics argue about the genetic element of Schizophrenia?
It argues that genes won’t always be expressed
Key board analogy for MZ twins
What does the diathesis stress model argue?
That we inherit a predisposition to Schizophrenia (diathesis)
It will be activated if we experience an emotional trigger (stress)
