PSY 2012 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Fetus, Rape Myth, Homeostasis
Document Summary
Behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Environment: every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us. Chromosomes: threadlike structures made of dna molecules that contain the genes (23 pairs) Dna (deoxyribonucleic acid): a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosome. Genes: the biochemical units that make up the chromosomes; segments of dna capable of synthesizing proteins. Genome: the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic (cid:373)aterial i(cid:374) that orga(cid:374)is(cid:373)"s (cid:272)hro(cid:373)oso(cid:373)es. Identical twins (monozygotic twins): develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms. Although ide(cid:374)ti(cid:272)al t(cid:449)i(cid:374)s ha(cid:448)e the sa(cid:373)e ge(cid:374)es, the(cid:455) do(cid:374)"t al(cid:449)a(cid:455)s ha(cid:448)e the sa(cid:373)e # of copies of those genes. That variation helps explain why one twin may have a greater risk for certain illnesses and disorders, including schizophrenia.
