Psychology 1000 Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Textbook Notes

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Physical development including development of nervous system is passed on to us from our parents blueprint. Biological characteristics set limits on our behavioral capabilities. Genes and environmental factors determine our behavior (nature and nurture) Hippocrates suggested that semen contains not body parts, but rather some sort of design for the formation of the offspring. Mendel showed that hereditary involves the passing on of the specific organic factors, not a simple blending of parents characteristics. Specific factors might produce visible characteristics in the offspring, or they might simply be carried for possible transmission of another generation. Offspring of one set of parents don t all inheret the same traits, as is evident in the differences we see among brothers and sisters. Genotype: specific genetic makeup of an individual present from conception and never change. Phenotype: the observable characteristics produced by that genetic endowment can be effected by other genes and the environment. Egg and sperm = beginning of a new individual.