1. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Pages
Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument
Study needed!!

2. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Genotype and Phenotype
All cells in the human body that have a nucleus contain a set of CHROMOSOMES
A thread-like structure that contains a DNA molecule
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total)
One from mom, one from dad.
Both chromosomes in the pair have a code for identical characteristics, but the chromosomes themselves might not be identical
DNA stores info.
It is a code made up of a long sequence of four chemical bases. The bases are paired up, making a sequence of base pairs.
Double helix: looks like a twisted ladder
Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases
A gene is a unit of heredity, a region of DNA that encodes a specific trait or function.
Estimated 20,000 genes in a human organism
Alleles are different forms of a gene
They can be dominant or recessive
The set of traits as coded in an individual’s DNA is called genotype. The set of traits that actually manifest in an individuals body, appearance or behavior is called phenotype.

3. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Nature vs. Nurture debate
Today, it is widely recognized that the debate needs to be reformulated
There is little doubt that human behavior is influenced by both genetics & brain structure (nature) and environmental factors (nurture)
What is more interesting is to answer the following questions?
What are the relative contributions of biological and environmental factors into a specific behavior?
Ex. How important is biology or environment in developing intelligence?
How do biological and environmental influences interact?

4. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Methods of research
Twin studies
Comparing similarities between monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins. If identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins, we can attribute it to genetic influences
Family studies:
Uses the principle of genetic relatedness: comparing children to parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc.
Adoption studies:
Compare adopted children to their adoptive parents, biological parents, adoptive siblings, and biological siblings.
Molecular genetics:
based on using modern technology for genetic mapping and identifying the alleles of particular genes in a particular individual. Genetic variants are then correlated with observed behavior.

5. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
We cannot study genes directly and how they combine with other genes and the environment
Scientist rely on statistical models using correlations to analyze data about the behavioral effects of genes
Statistical relationships, not “cause and effect”

6. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Genetic heritability: the Falconer model
Genetic heritability is the quantitative measure of the relative contribution of genetic factors into a trait or behavior.
The Falconer model assumes that phenotype comprises three types of influences: genetics (A), shared environment (C), and individual environment (E), 1 = A + C + E
Genetic heritability (A) can be estimated by directly measuring the similarity (correlation) between monozygotic (rMZ) and dizygotic twins (rDZ)
Shared environment is the part of environmental influences that is common to the two twins (similar schooling, same exposure to technology, etc.)
Individual environment comprises environmental influences that are unique to each of the twins (different friends, different hobbies, etc.)

7. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Heritability of intelligence: twin studies
Bouchard and McGue (1981)
Conducted a meta-analysis of 111 studies on IQ correlations between relatives
Aim: on page 100
Methods: on page 100
Results: on page 100
Limitations: on page 101

8. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES GENETIC INHERITANCE INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR?
Heritability of intelligence: adoption studies
IQ scores tend to be more similar for child-biological parent than for child-adoptive parent
IQ scores tend to rise when child is adopted into more prosperous families
This is called the additive influence of genetics and environment on the development of intelligence
Scarr and Weinberg – “Minnesota Adoption Studies” (1983)
Aim: on page 102
Methods: on page
Results: on page 103