CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Fetus, Twin Study, Depth Perception

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Robert Reinhart

Document Summary

Nature vs. nurture- both genes (nature) and nurture environment (nurture) combine to shape human development. In order to understand human development one must examine both factors. Genetics: the genome is the master blueprint for making an organism, genotype & phenotype. Genotype- a(cid:374) o(cid:396)ga(cid:374)is(cid:373)(cid:859)s ge(cid:374)eti(cid:272) (cid:373)akeup; (cid:374)e(cid:448)e(cid:396) (cid:272)ha(cid:374)ges. Phenotype-a(cid:374) o(cid:396)ga(cid:374)is(cid:373)(cid:859)s o(cid:271)se(cid:396)(cid:448)a(cid:271)le physi(cid:272)al (cid:272)ha(cid:396)a(cid:272)te(cid:396)isti(cid:272)s; al(cid:449)ays changing: behavioral genetics. Behavioral geneticists use two methods to assess the degree to which behavioral traits (phenotype) are inherited. Twin studies: compare similarities between monozygotic and dizygotic twins to determine the genetic basis of specific traits. Adoption studies: compare biological relatives and adopted relatives. Caspi et al (2002) followed more than 1,000 new zealanders from birth until adulthood. Every few years information was collected about the participants. When the participants were 26 years old, investigators examined which factors predicted who had become a violent criminal. Study is a good example of how genes and social context interact to affect behavior (phenotype)