Biological Psychology

Summary 1: Behavioural genetics

The study of how genes affect behaviour
Genetics – the biology of inheritance
Chromosomes – long thin structures in every biological cell that contain genetic
information. Most human cells contain 23 pairs (total of 46).
Genes – the biological instructions inherited from both parents and located on the
chromosomes, that provide the blueprint for physical development. Genes controll
the synthesis of protein.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – the molecular structure of a gene that provides the
genetic code. Strands of sugar, phosphate.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Mitosis – cell division – cells are copies
Meiosis – male sperm and ova – the chromosome pairs are not copied, they randomly
split and rearrange.
Fertilised cell – zygote – identical twins developed from one fertilized egg cell are
called monozygotic
Polygenic – a term describing characteristics that are determined by more than one
gene
Genotype – the full set of genes, inherited from both parents, contained in 23 pairs
of chromosomes.
Phenotype – how an individual looks and acts, which depends on how inherited
characteristics interact with the environment.
Alleles – collection of different genes.
Late 1800s, work of Sir Francis Galton (cousin of Charles Darwin) – famous research
that genius runs in families.
1924, 2 studies aimed at separating nature and nurture by studying twins and
adoptees.
The focus of research in behavioural genetics is to identifies the genetic and
environmental factors responsible for differences among individuals, not for the
characteristics of a particular person.
Role of genetic factors in psychology
• Genetic influences over the life span – general cognitive ability is that these
influences continue to increase throughout the life span.
• Genes affecting multiple traits – eg. Same gene factor affecting anxiety also
affect depression
• Identifying genes related to behaviour – eg. Huntington’s disease is caused by
a single dominant gene