Genetic similarity

Question 1

Twin studies

Answer 1

Studies that look at the traits/behaviours of twins in order to reveal the importance of environmental and genetic influences for traits.

Question 2

Kinship studies

Answer 2

Studies that analyse the concordance rates of different genetic relationships so as to determine the genetic basis of a behaviour/trait.

Question 3

Genes

Answer 3

The basic physical units of heredity that provides the coded instructions for the expression of hereditary traits.

Question 4

Genetic inheritance

Answer 4

The passing of traits or characteristics, encoded in DNA, from parents to offspring during reproduction, determining the characteristics of individuals.

Question 5

Concordance rates

Answer 5

A statistical measure that describes the proportion of pairs of individuals that share an attribute, given that one already possesses this trait.

Question 6

Epigenetics

Answer 6

A field of study that argues that in order for a behaviour to occur, genes must be ‘expressed’ via a complex chemical reaction to environmental or physiological changes.

Question 7

Monozygotic twins

Answer 7

Two offspring of the same pregnancy developed from a single fertilised ovum that splits into equal halves during an early stage of pregnancy, meaning that they share 100% of their DNA.

Question 8

Dizygotic twins

Answer 8

Two offspring of the same pregnancy developed from two ova that were released from the ovary simulatenously and fertilised at the same time, meaning that they share 50% of their DNA.