Behavioral and Neural Genetics Final

Terms/genes study sheet

Alzheimer’s early onset

-age related dementia

-below 65 years of age

-APP: codes for amyloid precursor protein. believed to help other proteins bond and guide each neuron migration. might contribute to build up of amyloid plaques

-amyloid plaques: protein fragments that build up in between nerve cells

-people with Alzheimer’s have more plaques

Alzheimer’s late onset

-age related dementia

-after age 65

-ApoE: apolioprotein E. correlates with build up of amyloid plaques. E2 allele decreases likelihood of Alzheimer’s by 40%. E4 allele increases likelihood of AD and lowers age of onset

Antisocial/aggressive

-no regard for right or wrong, high levels of violence and aggressive behavior

-monoamine oxidase A: degradative enzyme. in a family of Dutch men displaying violent and aggressive behavior, they all lacked the MAOA gene. significant interaction with child maltreatment

-serotonin transporter 5HTT: aggression is higher in mice with a knockout of 5-HT 1B receptors. 5-HT antagonist drug treatment led to higher aggression in monkeys

Attention deficit disorder

-reward/novelty seeking: seeking activities that derive joy

DRD4: dopamine receptor. longer allele associated with ADHD and has weaker dopamine binding. birds with longer allele were more exploratory

Autism

-inability to interpret emotional states of others

-difficulty putting themselves in one’s shoes

-SHANK3: mutation on SHANK3 accounts for 2-3% of intellectual deficits in autistic people

Cognition

-process of acquiring knowledge and understanding

-COMT: influences dopamine concentration. valine allele, methionine allele.

-homozygous met/met: lower enzymatic activity and greater cognitive function

ASPM: changing nature has been associated with growth in cerebral cortex (responsible for cognitive ability)