PSY 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gregor Mendel, Josef Mengele, Twin Study

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1102
• Professor: victor emerson

Document Summary

Inside the nucleus of each of our cells is a complex molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, or dna. This molecule is most easily pictured as a very tall ladder, the bottom of which is fixed to the ground and the top of which is twisted into a corkscrew shape. These complex molecules make up our chromosomes. Each chromosome is made up of many, many genes, which are small pieces of the dna molecules. Humans have a total of about 30,000 genes; in the aggregate, this is called the human genome. We know from basic genetics studies (e. g. , gregor mendel) that certain traits are heritable that is, they can be passed on from one generation to the next. In humans, traits such as eye colour, hair colour, and others are determined genetically. In other words, these aspects of the human person are under genetic control and are not influenced by the environment in which the person is raised.