Lecture 1

Question 1

What is the main question that drives Behavior Genetics?

Answer 1

1- What makes us similar, what makes us different?

Question 2

What is Pythagoras’opinion on gene inheritance?

Answer 2

The father supplies essential characteristics, and the mother supplies the critical building blocks.

Question 3

What is Aristotle’s opinion on gene inheritance?

Answer 3

Children were made from purified blood from the testes and menstrual blood.
( No menstrual blood in pregnancy = kid )

Question 4

What is Antonie and Nicolaas opinion on gene inheritance?

Answer 4

1-Invented microscope and started the field microbiology
2-Refined theory of preformationism: We all come from miniature versions of ourselves. Sperm contains complete preformed individuals called “homunculus.”.

Flaws: It ignores the mother; how can we have daughters then? Why do sons resemble their mother?

Question 5

What is Francis Galton’s opinion on gene inheritance?

Answer 5

1- Galton founded psychometrics, differential psychology and behavior genetics.

2- He studied twins and family trees to understand hereditary/genetic influences

3- Believes in “ eminent status” was more likely to appear in close relatives.

4- Supporter of eugenics.

Question 6

Charles Darwin

Answer 6

1- Theory of evolution
2-Idea of blending theory: Different parts of the body give information to egg or sperm, then they mix egg and sperm information is mixed and create embryo.

Question 7

What are problems with the blending theory?

Answer 7

1-Natural selection needs variation; if blending inheritance were to be true, then natural selection would not work.
1a- After a few generations everyone would have the average.