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AP Psych 3C: Genetics, Evolutionary Psychology, & Behavior

Terms in this set (16)

behavior genetics
the study of the power and limits of genetic (nature) and environmental (nurture) influences on behavior
environment
every non-genetic influence from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
genes
-46 chromosomes (23 from each parent- made up of DNA)
-either active (expressed) or inactive (not shown)
-some may be "turned on" by environmental events- have code for making proteins
DNA
complex molecule that contains the genetic information that makes up our chromosomes
protein molecule
building block of physical development
genome
consistes of all genetic material in organism's chromosomes
how does studying animals DNA help researchers?
gives insight into understanding mental processes and behavior
what kind of research are twins usually used for?
nature-nuture studies (can also use adoptive families and children)
identical twins
-develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into 2
-also known as monozygotic
-share the same internal genetic code (genotype)
-can have different physical traits/appearance and different behavioral traits (phenotype)
major differences between identical twins
- don't always have the same number of copies of certain genes (one may be at risk for a disease but not the other)
-sometimes they do not share a placenta during prenatal development (there is 2) and one may receive better nutrients than the other
fraternal twins
-develop from separate fertilized eggs during the same menstrual cycle
-do not share the same genetic code/genotype (genetically more like siblings born at different times)
-all they share is the prenatal environment
-also known as dizygotic
separated twins
studied in the 70s and 80s by Thomas Bouchard: subjects were identical twins separated after birth (different families).

believes it is our nature that effects who we are because the twins showed similarities in everything they did despite growing up in different households
what are the two groups created when a child is adopted?
genetic relatives (biological parents and siblings)

environmental relatives (adoptive family)
most adoptive children and their families have a strong connection, especially if adopted before what age?
age 2
most important part of raising a child
loving and nurturing home
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals that we contribute to genes

focuses on the variation among groups, not an individual

also looks at environmental influences
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