THE BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR: BEHAVIOR GENETICS
Behavior Genetics
o The study of the ______________________________________________ of genetics and environmental influences on behavior
o Nature v. nurture
Basic Genetic Principles
Chromosomes
o Strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that carry genetic information; located in the
_______________________________________________________________________________
Humans: ______________________________________________ (23/23)
Genes
o DNA segments; _____________________________________________________________________________________________
o Can be active (expressed) or inactive
o Like chromosomes, genes operate in pairs, with one gene in each pair coming from each parent
Homozygous Condition
__________________________________________________________
Heterozygous Condition
__________________________________________________________
In this case, one gene in the pair masks behavior
o Genotype
A person’s __________________________________________________; determined at conception
and fixed forever
o Phenotype
The ways in which a person’s genotype is _______________________________________________
_______________________________________; may change over time
______________________________________________________________________________________
Genes are pliable
o Polygenic Inheritance
Characteristics that are influenced by ____________________________________________________
Genetic & Chromosomal Problems
o Cystic Fibrosis
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
o Sickle Cell Anemia
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
o Tay-Sachs Disorder
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
o Phenylketonuria
Two recessive genes; difficulty digesting a certain amino acid – phenylalanine
o Down Syndrome
Extra chromosome (21st pair)
o Kleinfelter’s Syndrome
Extra X chromosome; ________________________________________________________________________________ (e.g. enlarged breasts,
obesity, etc.)
o Turner’s Syndrome
________________________________________________________________________ (e.g. infertility, sexually underdeveloped, etc.)
Heritability
What is heritability?
o The extent to which __________________________________________________________________ are attributable to their differing genes
What percentage of the difference among height can be attributed to genes?
90%
Individual differences v. group differences?
Nature v. nurture?
Heritability: Twin Studies
Used to determine the heritability of a trait…
Heritability: Adoption Studies
Compare children’s traits with those of their ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
o Studies suggest that adoptees tend to be more similar to their _____________________________________________________________________________
o Two adopted children in the same household bear no more resemblance to each other than two biological siblings (in terms of
personality)
Molecular Genetics
DEFINITION: A branch extension of behavior genetics that asks the question, “__________________________________________________________________?”
GOAL: To find some of the many genes that influence normal human traits (e.g. body weight, sexual orientation, extraversion, etc.)