Module 10: Behavior Genetics Flashcards
What are genes?
Biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes, the threadlike coils of DNA
What is the human genome?
is the shared genetic profile that distinguishes humans from other species
What is behavior genetics?
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
What is heredity?
The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
what is envirnoment?
Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
what is chromosomes?
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
What is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)?
Complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
what is genome?
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes
identical twins vs fraternal twins
- identical twins: develop from a single fertilized egg
- fraternal twins: develop from two different eggs
what happens to separated identical twins?
Maintain the same genes while testing effects of different home environments
what happens to adoptive families?
Maintain the same home environment while studying effects of genetic differences
why are siblings different?
- Siblings share only half their genes
- Genetic differences become amplified as people react to them differently
what is temperament?
A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
what is heritability?
is the proportion of variation among individuals that can be attributed to genes
what is interaction?
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)
What is molecular genetics?
is the study of the molecular structure and function of genes
What is epigenetics?
- is the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
