Genetic and Environmental Influences Quiz

What is the formula used to decompose the phenotypic variance (Vp) into genetic (A), shared environmental (C), and non-shared environmental (E) components?

Vp = A + C + E

What is the Equal Environments Assumption in twin studies?

Environmental variance with MZ and DZ twin pairs will be the same with respect to the environments that influence the behavior/trait under study.

What is the purpose of comparing trait similarity by 'real' and 'perceived' zygosity in twin studies?

To test the Equal Environments Assumption.

What is assortative mating in human genetics?

A form of nonrandom mating in which pair bonds are established on the basis of phenotype (observable characteristics). Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of positive assortative mating on genetic variation and similarity of DZ twins?

Reduces genetic variation and makes DZ twins more similar to one another Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of adoption design in studying genetic influence on traits?

To separate genetic and environmental influences by comparing adopted children to their biological and adoptive parents. Signup and view all the answers

What are the assumptions of adoption design in studies of genetic and environmental influences?

Families involved in adoption are representative, biological parents' contribution is limited to genes, and selective placement does not invalidate conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main assumption about genetic correlation between monozygotic (MZ) twins in twin studies?

Genetic correlation between MZ twins is 1.0. Signup and view all the answers

How can IVF studies help in distinguishing between prenatal environment and genetic relatedness?

IVF studies provide a method to disentangle the prenatal environment from genetic relatedness. Signup and view all the answers

Why is selective placement a potential issue in adoption studies?

If biological and adoptive parents are matched, the validity of adoption studies may be questioned. Signup and view all the answers

What do twin and adoption studies aim to investigate?

They aim to investigate the relative importance of genetic and environmental influences on individual differences. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider the differences between biological parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children in studies?

To ensure that they are representative of the general population and to account for any biases. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between MZ twins and DZ twins.

MZ twins share 100% of their genes, while DZ twins share around 50% of their genes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of adoption studies in behavioral genetics?

To differentiate between the effects of shared genes and shared environment on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How does assortative mating impact heritability estimates?

Assortative mating can inflate heritability estimates by increasing the genetic similarity between parents. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ACE model stand for in the context of behavior genetics?

Additive genetics, Common (Shared) Environment, Environment specific to each twin. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to focus on population statistics rather than individual cases in behavior genetics?

Focusing on population statistics helps to separate the influence of genes and environment on individual differences. Signup and view all the answers

How do twin studies help in understanding the heritability of traits?

Twin studies compare the similarity between MZ and DZ twins to estimate the heritability of traits. Signup and view all the answers

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