Genes, Evolutionary Psych, Twin and Adoption Studies

Chap 3 Myers

Genes: Our Codes for Life

Chromosomes containing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are situated in the nucleus of a cell.

Genes: Our Codes for Life

Segments within DNA consist of genes that make proteins to determine our development.

Genome
Genome is the set of complete instructions for making an organism, containing all the genes in that organism. Thus, the human genome makes us human. We share 99.9 percent of our DNA with every other human on earth. Slight differences in DNA can determine who gets diseases, who is short or tall, or who is depressed or happy.

Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature

Evolutionary psychology studies why we as humans are alike. In particular, it studies the evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection. Natural selection is an evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because these traits help animals survive and reproduce. Some mutations occur that give an organism a competitive edge. This is then passed on. Ex. Sharks with keener than normal smell, Bull Moose with large antlers, etc.

Artificial Selection
Biologists like Belyaev and Trut (1999) were able to artificially rear and domesticate wild foxes, selecting them for friendly traits. These domesticated foxes are now sold as pets.

Any trait that is favored naturally or artificially spreads to future generations.

Human Traits
A number of human traits have been identified as a result of pressures afforded by natural selection. Evolutionary Psychology attempts to answer some of these questions:

Why do infants fear strangers when they become mobile? Why do people fear spiders and snakes and not electricity and guns?
How are men and women alike? How and why do mens and womens sexuality differ?

Human Sexuality
Gender Differences in Sexuality
Males and females, to a large extent, behave and think similarly. Differences in sexes arise in regards to reproductive behaviors. Men have a more recreational approach while women more relational. Men also tend to misinterpret warm responses from women as sexual interest

Question (summarized) Casual sex Sex for affection

Male 58% 25%

Female 34% 48%

Think about sex everyday

54%

19%

Natural Selection & Mating PreferencesEvolutionary Explanation

Natural selection has caused males to send their genes into the future by mating with multiple females since males have lower costs involved. Men look for women whose waists are 1/3 narrower than their hips.
However, females select one mature and caring male because of the higher costs involved with pregnancy and nursing. Looking for potential in long-term relationship.

Mating Preferences
Males look for youthful appearing females in order to pass their genes into the future. Is this why women spend their time and money on their appearance? Females, on the other hand, look for maturity, dominance, affluence and boldness in males. Is this why men try to establish their status and dominance?

Data based on 37 cultures.

Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences

Behavior Geneticists study our differences and weigh the relative effects of heredity and environment. Ask, how much are our differences shaped by our genetic blueprints? And how much by our environment? Often use twin studies and adoption studies.

Twin Studies
Studying the effects of heredity and environment on two sets of twins, identical and fraternal, has come in handy.

Identical- develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two. Genetically identical. Natures own human clones. Fraternal- develop from separate eggs. Genetically no more similar than brothers or sisters. Identical twins are much more behaviorally similar than fraternal twins are. Much more likely to get divorced if your identical twin does (5.5 times more likely) than if your fraternal twin does (1.6 times more likely).

Separated Identical Twins

A number of studies compared identical twins reared separately from birth, or close thereafter, and found numerous similarities. Separated Twins Critics of separated twin studies note that such similarities can be found between strangers. Researchers point out that differences between fraternal twins are greater than identical twins. p.109-110 Myers

Personality, Intelligence
Abilities, Attitudes

Interests, Fears
Brain Waves, Heart Rate

Biological Versus Adoptive Relatives

Adoption studies, as opposed to twin studies, suggest that adoptees (who may be biologically unrelated) tend to be different from their adoptive parents and siblings.

Adoptive Studies
Adoptive studies strongly point to the simple fact that biologically related children turn out to be different in a family. So investigators ask:
Do siblings have differing experiences?
Do siblings, despite sharing half of their genes, have different combinations of the other half of their genes?

Ultimate question: Does parenting have an effect?

Parenting
Parenting does have an effect on biologically related and unrelated children.
Parenting Influences Childrens Attitudes, Values
Manners, Beliefs

Faith, Politics

Temperament and Heredity

Temperament refers to a persons stable emotional reactivity (intense and fidgety or quiet and placid) and intensity. Exceptionally inhibited and fearful 2-yearolds often are still relatively shy 8-year-olds; half will become introverted as adults. Identical twins express similar temperaments, suggesting heredity predisposes temperament.

Gene-Environment Interaction
Genes can influence traits which affect responses, and environment can affect gene activity. A genetic predisposition that makes a child restless and hyperactive evokes an angry response from his parents. A stressful environment can trigger genes to manufacture neurotransmitters leading to depression.

Gene-Environment Interaction
Genes and environment affect our traits individually, but more important are their interactive effects.

People respond differently to Jack Black than they do to Robert Pattinson

Neuroplasticity
The ability to develop and change in response to the environment
Could see this with rats and how they develop thicker cortices when exposed to an enriched environment Handled preemie babies develop faster than those not touched Children benefit from learning an instrument or second language earlier in life Adults can still benefit from this as they build neural connections and begin to master activities

Could even involve one brain area taking over the functions of another damaged brain area
Civil War amputees experienced phantom limb sensations as sensory cortex space previously designated towards lost limb now re-designated to other areas of the body.

Experience and Brain Development

Early postnatal experiences affect brain development. Rosenzweig et al. (1984) showed that rats raised in enriched environments (with toys and other rats) developed thicker cortices than those in impoverished environment (solitary confinement).

Touch and Massage Benefits

Handled infant rats and premature babies respond positively by gaining weight more rapidly and develop faster neurologically.

Experience and Faculties

Early experiences during development in humans shows remarkable improvements in music, languages and the arts. Experience preserves our activated connections while allowing our unused connections to degenerate. This is why the pre-adolescent can master several languages.

Brain Development and Adulthood

Brain development does not stop when we reach adulthood. Throughout our life, brain tissue continues to grow and change.

A well-learned finger-tapping task leads to more motor cortical neurons (right) than baseline.