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Module 14
UNIT 2 Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Behavior Genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. |
Heredity | the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring. |
Environment | Every nongeneticc influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us. |
Chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes. |
DNA (deosyribonucleic acid) | a complex molecule containing the gnetic information that makes up the chromosomes. |
Genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins. |
Genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. |
identical (monozygotic) twins | develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms. |
fraternal (dizygotic) twins | develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment. |
Heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environment studied. |
Interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity). |
Molecular Genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes. |
Molecular Behavior Genetics | the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior. |
Epigenetics | "above"or"in addition to" (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change. |