Chapter 3

Question 1

Genes: What are they and what do they do?

Answer 1

the biochemical unit of heredity that make up the chromosomes made up by segments of DNA
a segment of DNA is capable of synthesizing a protein which build, regulate, and maintain our brains and bodies
humans have 19,000

Question 2

Genetic variations

Answer 2

takes 2 people to make 1 person
alleles from the father differ from the alleles form the mother
some genetic material is transferred from one chromosome to another

Question 3

Understanding the genes at conception

Answer 3

matching genes (homozygous vs heterozygous)
male or female (XX vs XY)
even twins are not the same
When a man and woman makes sperm or ova, and then their chromosomes pair up when they join, some genetic material is transferred from one chromosome to the other, so that even if two siblings get the same chromosome from the mother, their chromosomes aren’t identical.

Question 4

Role of dominant and recessive genes

Answer 4

dominant gene is more influential than recessive genes but every person is said to be a carrier of a recessive gene because it is carried in the genotype

Question 5

The Environment: What is it and what are the different types

Answer 5

all nongenetic factors that can influence development
passive- if parents are really good with math they will provide an enviornment to make you really good at math
evocative- people recieve responses from others that are influenced by their genotype
active- people seek out enviornments that correspond to their genotypic characteristics

Question 6

Epigenetics

Answer 6

all heritable changes in gene expression that are separate of the DNA sequence
epigenetic info provides additional instructions on how, when and where this info should be used

Question 7

Myths about hereditary influences

Answer 7

genes do not directly influence developmental and psychological processes and domains
no single gene is responsible for a single function process, trait, or behavior
genetic influences are not locked on at full strength at the moment of conception
genetic influence foes not imply a very strong influence
there is no evidence that environmental influences increase and heredity decreases

Question 8

Methods used to study genetic influences

Answer 8

within species comparisons
selective breeding
family studies
molecular genetics- indentifying specific genes linked to specific physical and mental processes

Question 9

Recent research findings regarding hereditary influences

Answer 9

activity level
task persistence
emotion
sociability
psychological adjustment
psychopathology
leisure activities
big 5 personality traits

Question 10

Gene/environment interactions

Answer 10

passive- if parents are really good with math they will provide an enviornment to make you really good at math
evocative- people recieve responses from others that are influenced by their genotype
active- people seek out enviornments that correspond to their genotypic characteristics