Genes and the environment 2

Question 1

polygenic

Answer 1

a characteristic or trait influenced by multiple genes
e.g. eye colour

Question 2

monogenic

Answer 2

a characteristic or trait that is the product of a single gene
e.g. face freckles

Question 3

genetic disorder

Answer 3

the result of changes to the genes
e.g. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder
there’s very little influence from the environment

Question 4

genetic vulnerability

Answer 4

genetic factors can increase the risk but it not set in stone
environmental influences are needed for the disorder to be present
e.g. depression

Question 5

single nucleotide polymorphism

Answer 5

a change in a single base pair in the gene, which leads to a change in the protein generated
has the potential to impact behaviour and trait development
e.g. SNPs in gene DISC1 has been associated with schizophrenia in humans

Question 6

diathesis stress model

Answer 6

psychological disorder develop due to an interaction between underlying vulnerability and a environmental stressor

Question 7

epigenetic landscape

Answer 7

multiple environmental factors interact with complex genetic factors that result in a modification in gene expression that shape cellular and neuronal functions

Question 8

additive genetics

Answer 8

when alleles at a specific locus on a chromosome and across loci add up to affect a trait

Question 9

heritability

Answer 9

the degree to which differences in a characteristic are due to genetic differences

Question 10

epigenetic

Answer 10

environmental and other influences can alter the gene expression
don’t alter a persons genetic code but do play a role in development

Question 11

histone

Answer 11

a protein that provides the chromosome with structural support