Behavioural Genetics: Are Genes Involved?

A set of flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and findings from the study of behavioral genetics, particularly focusing on the connections between genetics and behavior as discussed in the lecture.

Behavioural Genetics

The study of the role of genetics in animal (including human) behaviour.

Causality Link

The connection between genetic factors and behaviours and how they influence each other.

Domestication Syndrome

A set of traits that are commonly observed in domesticated animals, often linked to specific genetic changes.

Sonic Hedgehog Pathway

A signaling pathway that is crucial for regulating embryonic development and is implicated in various cancers.

Quantitative Traits

Traits that are influenced by multiple genes, leading to a continuous range of phenotypes.

Inbreeding

The mating of closely related individuals, which can reveal genetic links in traits.

SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms)

Genetic variations that occur naturally and can be linked to traits but are not mutations.

Additive Gene Effects

The cumulative effect of multiple genes on a single trait, leading to variation in the phenotype.

Liability Threshold Model

A model explaining how complex disorders, influenced by multiple genes, are diagnosed as qualitative conditions only after a certain level of severity is reached.

F1 Generation

The first generation of offspring from a genetic cross, often used to study inheritance patterns.