AP Psychology - Heredity & Environment Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards created from the AP Psychology Heredity & Environment worksheet covering genetic structures, twin studies, heritability, and gene-environment interactions.

Gene

The basic unit of heredity.

Chromosome

A threadlike DNA structure that carries genetic information.

DNA

The molecule containing genetic instructions for an organism.

Allele

Different forms of the same gene.

Genotype

An individual's underlying genetic makeup.

Phenotype

An individual's observable traits and characteristics.

Heritability

The proportion of variation among individuals in a population that can be statistically associated with genetic differences.

Nature

Biological and genetic influences on traits and behaviors.

Nurture

Environmental influences and life experiences that shape behavior and development.

Identical (Monozygotic) Twins

Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg that splits, sharing approximately 100% of their inherited genetic material.

Fraternal (Dizygotic) Twins

Twins that develop from separate fertilized eggs and share about 50% of their genetic material, similar to standard siblings.

Gene-Environment Interaction

The phenomenon occurring when the effect of environmental exposure depends on an individual's genetic makeup, or vice versa.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors can influence or alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence.

Behavioral Genetics

The study of how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence behavior and psychological traits.

Polygenic Traits

Characteristics or psychological traits that are influenced by the interaction of multiple genes rather than a single gene.

Reaction Range

The genetically determined upper and lower boundaries for a trait within which environmental factors dictate an individual's actual outcome.