PSYCH 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Gene-Environment Correlation, Developmental Psychopathology, Twin Study
Document Summary
Heritability: proportion of variance in a trait that can be explained by genes (rather than environment) Gottesman study - identical twins, one with schizophrenia, born second, lack of oxygen, schizophrenia is 65% heritable but the environment might kick the genetic vulnerability into place. Family members have greater likelihood of sharing the trait than non-family members. The closer the relationship, the closer the sharing (ie. identical twins) 100% heritable, treat environmentally (pku and diet change example) Environment across the whole population has allowed height to express differently now than generations ago. We are all taller but still the bell curve has 92% heritability. Heritability is not the same across the population - genes are not destiny, genes matter more in certain environments than others heritability of iq in the highest social class was 80-85%, in the lowest was 20- Heritability is different at different points in development for even the same people.
