biological explanations: genetic basis

Question 1

what are the 2 biological explainations

Answer 1

genetic basis

neural correlates

Question 2

what does the genetic basis of SZ say

Answer 2

SZ runs in families

Question 3

what did Gottesman’s study (1991) show in terms of genetic basis of SZ

Answer 3

ran a controlled genetic study

found risk of individual developing SZ was proportional to the amount of genetics they share with a schizophrenic

Question 4

what percentage did gottesman find in his genetic study

Answer 4

risk of developing SZ:

• general population 1%
• uncles /aunt 2%
• parents 6%
• siblings 9%
• DZ twins 17%
• MZ twins 48%

Question 5

what does the genetic explanation say in terms of shared environment

Answer 5

as family share the same environment as well as a proportion of their genes, the correlation represents both so caution is needed in interpretation of results

Question 6

explain the genetic basis of SZ in terms of candidate genes

Answer 6

SZ appears to be polygenic (not caused by one gene but several. Most likely are those coding for neurotransmitter dopamine)

SZ also appears to be aetiologically heterogenous (different combinations of genes have been linked to causing SZ)

Question 7

what did Ripke et al 2014 gather data from

Answer 7

Ripke et al 2014 gathered data from genome wide studies (looked at the whole human genome)

Question 8

what neurotransmitter is linked to causing SZ

Answer 8

dopamine

Question 9

how many participants were used in Ripke et al’s study in 2014

Answer 9

37,000 SZ patients genetic makeup was compared to 13,000 controls (non SZ)

Question 10

what was the findings of Ripke et al’s study in 2014

Answer 10

108 separate genetic variations were associated with an increased risk of SZ

genes associated with those coding for the functioning of neurotransmitters (e.g: dopamine)

Question 11

explain the role of genetic mutation in terms of the development of SZ

Answer 11

SZ can have a genetic origin in the form of mutated parental DNA

this could be caused by radiation, poison, viral infection

Question 12

explain the findings of Brown’s study 2002 about the role of genetic mutation in the development of SZ

Answer 12

Brown 2002 - positive correlation between parental age (sperm mutation) and risk of SZ

fathers under 25 - 0.7% risk
risk to fathers over 50 - 2% risk