Lecture 1 - Cognitive Genetics Flashcards
Explain with two different genes.
Genetic variation -> Protein -> Brain -> Cognition
Two different genes. Different protein structures. Might lead to differences in brain structure. Differences in brain development (e.g. memory).
Cognitive genetics.
Concerned with linking genetic variation to variation in a cognitive ability. Measure gene, measure cognition, then correlate.
Complex trait.
A quantifiable property of an organism influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors as well as interactions between them.
Why is cognitive ability considered a complex trait?
There are maybe hundreds/thousands of genes leading to a single trait.
- To date, the findings that have reached genome-wide significance for a confirmed association with ADHD are…
A. Extremely supportive
B. Somewhat supportive, but many need replication
C. Only suggestive and must be replicated
D. Not suggestive, not helpful, and a waste of time
C. Only suggestive and must be replicated
Genome-wide association studies
A. investigates variation in genes across the entire genome
B. investigates how these genes influences individual differences in specific cognitive process
C. Take all genes and correlate with behaviour
D. Doesn’t matter what hypothesis, not biased
E. Need at least 40 000 ppl, and precision in collecting data is sacrificed
All
- Davis, Haworth and Plomin (2012) conducted a study where different childhood outcomes (?) of 6759 twin pairs were geocoded to their postcode in England or Wales.
It was found that the amount to which genes predicted ADHD varied depending on proximity to London. What kind of influences would be contributing this variation?
A. Additive genetic influences
B. Shared environmental influences
C. Non-shared environmental influences
D. Single nucleotide polymorphism
C. Non-shared environmental influences
3. What kind of study would be conducted if you wanted to look at how a specific gene influences individual differences for a cognitive process? A. Twin studies B. Candidate gene studies C. Genome wide association studies D. Heritability studies
B. Candidate gene studies
4. What term describes the physical appearance of an organism with respect to a trait? A. Intermediate phenotype B. Complex trait C. Endophenotype D. Phenotype
D. Phenotype
5. In the studies mentioned of the Dopamine Transporter gene (DAT1) (Bellgrove et al. (2005) and Loo et al. (2003)) which type of repeat allele does not sustain the best attention in sustained attention tasks? A. 9/9 B. 9/10 C. 10/10 D. They all do equally badly
C. 10/10
Participants with one copy of the 9-repeat allele (9/9 or 9/10) have higher dopamine transport density compared to 10/10 carriers
- ____________ reflect a change in a single base in the DNA that differs from the usual base at that position and ___________ indicates Polymorphism in the length of tandemly repeated short sequences of DNA.
- Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
2. variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR)
7. If attention ability is highly correlated within both MZ and DZ pairs then the effect must be due to A. Genetics B. Non-shared environmental effects C. The environment D. Polymorphism
C. The environment
- Children with ADHD who have the 7-repeat allele display ________, where as those without the 7-repeat allele are at risk for poorer cognition.
A. Extreme behaviour but no cognitive symptoms
B. Cognitive symptom and no extreme behaviour
C. Mild behaviour but no cognitive symptoms
D. Mild behaviour and cognitive symptoms
A. extreme behaviour but no cognitive symptoms.
Bellgrove & Swanston - ADHD, 7 repeat allele made fewer errors in sustained attention task
- What is the most commonly studied variant in the Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1)?
A. VNTR in the 5’UTR
B. VNTR in the 3’UTR
C. SNP in the 3’UTR
D. SNP in the 2’UTR
B. VNTR in the 3’UTR
- What is (are) the strength(s) of the Genome-wide association study?
A. No prior information about the gene is required.
B. Allows examination of genetic variation across the genome.
C. Allows specific hypothesis to be tested.
D. Both A and B.
D. Both A and B.