Behavior Genetics

•Study of inherited characteristics or

heredity

•Particularly interested in the degree to

which mental ability, temperament, emotion
stability, and other psychological
characteristics are transmitted from parent to
offspring
 Basic Principle

Physiology + environment + gene =

Behavior
 Proponents
Gregor Johann Mendel

• Father of modern genetics

• His tedious experiments

resulted in the enunciation
of two generalizations that
later became known as the
laws of heredity.

• Mendel's laws became

the theoretical basis for
modern genetics and
heredity.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Proponents
Sir Francis Galton- intelligence studies
According to Galton that, in
the study of cognitive abilities
and intelligence, the approach
should be heredity and statistics

Charles Darwin-
Theory of Evolution,
Survival of the
Fittest, Natural
Selection
 Functional Unit: Gene
• A gene is the actual carrier of genetic
information
• Genes are held together
in an elongated strand
called DNA, and the
whole structure is
known as chromosome
 Recessive vs Dominant
• Dominant gene – carries the trait
manifested, such as brown eyes,
Hungtington’s disease, neurological
disorder

• Recessive gene – carries the trait, such as

albinism, baldness

• Polygenic, or are determined by many genes

working in combination
 Chromosomes
• There are 46 chromosomes in the human
reproductive system
• These 46 chromosomes are divided into
two groups of chromosomes: somatic
chromosomes and sex chromosomes
• 44 somatic chromosomes
• 2 sex chromosomes
• Sex chromosomes: Male (xy); Female (xx)
Karyotype-the physical representation of
the chromosomes
 Mental Retardation
• Down Syndrome is due
to additional x to number 21
• Also known as Trisomy 21

• People with Down syndrome usually have

mild to severe learning disabilities and
physical symptoms that include a small skull,
an extra fold of skin at the inner corner of
each eye, and a flattened bridge of the nose.
They also may have heart defects and other
serious health problems.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Klinefelter’s Syndrome
• Additional x to
number 23 (XXY)

• Males with Klinefelter’s

syndrome are typically tall,
and they may have small
testes and slight breast
development. They also
may have minor problems
with learning and are usually
infertile.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 Turner’s Syndrome
• Has only X and no Y or X (sex chromosomes)
• In this disorder, a female has one functioning X
chromosome instead of two. Females with this
condition are typically short, with a thick, webbed
neck. They may have mild
problems with learning, and
they usually are infertile
because they lack normal
ovaries.
• In males, will result to
retarded sexual development
• Turner’s Syndrome is also
known as Sexual Infantism
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Twins
Types of Twins:
a. Identical twins or Monozygotic
-when one ovum is ripened
and released and the zygote
splits into distinct
parts in the early
part of the cell division.
As a result, they will resemble
each other in all heredity traits
b. Fraternal Twins or dizygotic
- Non-identical
- Due to the
fertilization
of two sperm
cells
- Not necessarily
of the same sex
 Twin Study Method
by Francis Galton

Difference between identical twins:

Experience

Difference between fraternal twins:

Experience and Heredity
Questions?!