PSYCH 2AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Twin Study, Gene, Behavioural Genetics
14 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Genes and environment work together and affect one another. Epigenetics: the continuous interplay between genes and multiple levels of the environment (from cells to culture) that drives development. Genotype: is an individual"s complete set of genes inherited from their parents (genetically born with) No 2 people have the same genotype. Monozygotic twins can also have different genotypes due to their experiences/environment. Phenotype: the observable qualities of an individual; an individual"s physical, behavioral and psychological features. Stress (experience) and serotonin transporter gene (genetics) interacts to determine whether an individual experiences depression. The genes can code for one thing but how those genes are expressed is determined by the environment. Some experiences may actually change an individual"s genes. The mother"s experience can alter her genetic code and this altered genetic code will then be passed on to her child. Behavioral genetics: is the branch of genetics that deals with inheritance of behavioral and psychological traits.
