Chapter 2 Flashcards
What are genes?
Long molecules of DNA found in chromosomes
Every cell has how many pairs of chromosomes?
23 pairs
What forms the structure of the DNA double helix?
Pairs of molecules called “base pairs” bound together and arranged in different orders
What determines how the body develops and functions?
The specific ordering of base pairs in the DNA
What is a dominant gene?
A gene that determines a particular trait when paired with any other gene.
What is a recessive gene?
A gene that must be paired with another recessive gene to influence a trait
What does it mean for a trait to be polygenic?
The trait is influenced by many genes
What leads to cell specialization?
Only a small portion of genes in each cell are turned on
What role do proteins play in genetics?
They are products of gene activity that carry out functions in the body, contributing to traits and biological processes
What percentage of personality and cognition is estimated to be explained by genetics?
Approximately 50%
What is the key take-away about the relationship between genes and psychological disorders?
Genes do not act alone; environmental factors also play a role
According to Kandel, how can genes be influenced by environmental factors?
Genes that are inactive can be “switched on” by environmental factors
What does the Diathesis-Stress Model explain?
Explains how certain traits or behaviours are inherited and activated under conditions of stress, potentially leading to psychological disorders
What is the inherited tendency in the Diathesis-Stress Model called?
The diathesis
What does the Gene-Environment Correlation Model suggest?
Suggests that people have genes that predispose them to situations that then activate their genetic vulnerabilities
