Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Phenotype, Chromosome, Heritability

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Laura Fazakas- De Hoog

Document Summary

Our physical development is in large part directed by an elaborate genetic blueprint passed onto us by our parents. These biological characteristics set limits on our behavioral capabilities. Psychologists working in genetics study the ways in which favorable or unfavorable environmental conditions can affect the genetically inherited potential of an organism. Heredity involves the passing on of specific organic factors. These specific factors might produce visible characteristics in the offspring or they might just be carried onto another generation. The offspring of one set of parents do not all inherit the same traits. Genotype is the specific genetic makeup of an individual. Phenotype is the observable characteristics produced by the genetic makeup. Therefore, genotypes never change but phenotypes can be effected by other genes and the environment. Egg and sperm carry chromosomes which is a molecule of dna. The dna portion of the chromosome is called a gene.