Genetics and behavior

Question 1

what are genes?

Answer 1

sections of DNA that code for specific areas

Question 2

what are genotypes?

Answer 2

the complete set of traits encoded in an individual’s DNA

Question 3

what are phenotypes?

Answer 3

the set of traits that manifest in an individual’s body, appearance and behavior

Question 4

what is the heritability coefficient?

Answer 4

a measure of how much of the variation of a trait in a population is due to genetics

Question 5

STUDY ON GENETICS metanalysis

Answer 5

Bouchard and McGue 1981
aim: to observe the correlation between IQ and shared genes, to find out if intelligence is inherited
- meta-analysis of 111 studies
- intelligence is 54% genetically inherited

Question 6

STUDY ON GENETICS home reared

Answer 6

Kendler et al (2015)
aim: to investigate the role of the rearing environment in cognitive ability
438 male sibling pairs
- as+ap= 0.18
- as-bp = 0.2
-hr+bp= 0.34
intelligence can be inherited but it is also shaped by environment

Question 7

STUDY ON GENETICS black adopted

Answer 7

Scarr and Weinberg 1983
aim: to see if black children reared by white families performed on test IQ tests and achieved better in school
- 101 adoptive families
- significant increase in IQ tests
- early adoption increased levels
- higher correlation between bp than ad
- young siblings are similar regardless of blood relation
-40-70% are genetics

Question 8

what are the limitations of twin research?

Answer 8

1. limited samples
2. difficult to generalize
3. based on questionable assumptions (Monozygotic twins share 100% of their environment and genes)
4. ethical consideration