AP psych

Behavior Genetics

• Study of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Key Definitions

• Heredity: Genetic transfer of traits from parents to offspring.

• Environment: Non-genetic influences, including prenatal nutrition and surrounding stimuli.

Types of Twins

• Fraternal (Dizygotic) Twins: Develop from separate fertilized eggs; genetically similar as regular siblings but share prenatal environment.

Heritability

• Heritability: Proportion of variation in a trait within a group attributed to genetics; variable depending on population and environment.

Interactions in Behavior Genetics

• Interaction: Effect of one factor (e.g., environment) depends on another (e.g., heredity).

• Molecular Genetics: Studies molecular structure and function of genes.

• Molecular Behavior Genetics: Examines gene-environment interactions influencing behavior.

• Epigenetics: Studies environmental effects on gene expression without DNA changes.