Chapter 2 - Behavioral Genetics and Epidgenetics

Question 1

Epigenesis

Answer 1

• Functional change in the genome that does not involve alteration of DNA, experience modifies chemistry of gene
• Structure - DNA sequence
• Function - gene expression

Examples
- if lizards are eaten by snake the kids adjust and have longer tails
- rats can be groomed to have less stress but if not can have higher stress

Question 2

Developmental systems theory

Answer 2

Development occurs within a system of interacting levels
- environment, behavior, neural activity, genetic activity

Question 3

How does change in genes happen

Answer 3

• gene chem is changed through methylattion making a gene inactive
• silences receptros that deal with stress (mice example)

Question 4

Passive effects

Answer 4

Genetically related parents are providing the rearing environment
- no control over this

Question 5

Evocative effects

Answer 5

• when a child elicits responses from others the child’s genotype impacting the environment
• reason why you and sibling different

Question 6

Active effects

Answer 6

when a childs genotype influences the types of environements they selective
- reason why you and sibling different

Question 7

Breastfeeding IQ

Answer 7

• babies breast fead had higher IQ - fatty acid not in formula
• not really statistically significant

Question 8

Conduct disorder

Answer 8

• if had severe maltreatement more likely to have disorder
• not all children with maltreatment have disorder…
• If you have MAOA gene, it reduces aggression making you less likely to have disorder even if you’ve been maltreated
• low MAOA activity and maltreatment = disorder, high MAOA activity and maltreatment - less common for disorder