Genes study: Weissman's family/pedigree/kinship study

Question 1

What was the aim of this study?

Answer 1

To investigate whether behaviour/psychological disorders run within families

Question 2

What was the procedure of this study?

Answer 2

• Investigated original parents & child
• Both high and low risk of depression
• The children grew up and had children themselves - third generation

Question 3

What were the findings of this study?

Answer 3

• If the grandparent and parent both had depression so would the grandchild (genetically inherited. Gene switched on and carried through)
• If the grandparent didn’t have depression but the parent did have depression the grandchild wouldn’t (environmental factors determining depression)

Question 4

What was the conclusion?

Answer 4

Sometimes genetics can cause depression but not always due to other factors which may influence this