Lecture 2 - Nature, Nurture, & Human Diversity (Pt. 1)

Question 1

What is behavior genetics?

Answer 1

The study of how heredity and environment contribute to human differences

Question 2

What do molecules do?

Answer 2

Have the ability to direct the assembly of proteins that build the body

Question 3

How can genetic protein assembly be turned on and off?

Answer 3

By environment or by other genes

Question 4

What is a genome?

Answer 4

An organism’s entire collection of genes

Question 5

How many genes are in the human genome?

Answer 5

20,000 - 250,000 genes

Question 6

How much of DNA is noncoding?

Answer 6

99%

Question 7

What is the purpose of noncoding DNA?

Answer 7

Achieves diverse (methylation-linked) results re gene expression

Question 8

What is the genetical difference between fraternal twins and regular siblings?

Answer 8

They are not any more genetically alike than regular siblings

Question 9

In what ways are identical twins alike?

Answer 9

In personality traits, behaviors/outcomes, and abilities

Question 10

In the identical twins studies, what similarities did the identical twins (raised in separate homes) share?

Answer 10

Personality, abilities, attitudes, interests, fears, brain waves, and heart rate

Question 11

What were the critiques of the identical twins studies?

Answer 11

The families have known about each other before, coincidences happen, and environments of adoptive families may be similar

Question 12

Who did the adopted children take after more?

Answer 12

The genetical relatives

Question 13

What does parenting influence?

Answer 13

Religion, values, manners, attitudes, politics, and habits

Question 14

How genetically similar are siblings?

Answer 14

Share 50% of genes

Question 15

Why are siblings so different?

Answer 15

Genetic differences becomes amplified as people react to them differently

Question 16

Is temperament linked to nature or nature?

Answer 16

Linked more to nature

Question 17

How much does temperament change?

Answer 17

Most do not seem to change from infancy to adulthood

Question 18

What are the 3 types of temperament?

Answer 18

Easy, difficult, slow to warm up

Question 19

What are molecular genetics?

Answer 19

The study of molecular structure and the function of genes

Question 20

What is the ethical conundrum behind molecular genetics?

Answer 20

Using genetics tests to select sperm, eggs, and embryos

Question 21

What are the two ways traits develop from genes?

Answer 21

Some traits are settled genes and others develop in response to experience

Question 22

What is self-regulation?

Answer 22

When genes turn each other on and off in response to environmental conditions

Question 23

What are epigenetics?

Answer 23

When the environment acts on the surface of genes to alter their activity

Question 24

What is the paradox behind human genes?

Answer 24

Genes allow us not to be tied to genes

Question 25

What is evolutionary psychology?

Answer 25

The study of how evolutionary principles help explain the origin and function of the human mind, traits, and behaviors

Question 26

What are the main forces guiding the course of development?

Answer 26

Parents, peers, and culture

Question 27

What is “pruning” in the brain?

Answer 27

When unused connections are “pruned” away to make well-used brain pathways work better

Question 28

What happens when certain abilities aren’t used?

Answer 28

They fade (“Use it or lose it”)

Question 29

What impact do environmental influences have on temperament?

Answer 29

They influence about 10%

Question 30

What do peers influence?

Answer 30

Cooperation skills, the path to popularity, music and other recreation choice, clothing choice, and good/bad habits