18 Questions
What can twin studies indicate about the onset of medical disorders and other traits?
Degree to which genetic and environmental influences contribute
According to Polderman et al.'s meta-analysis, what did they find about the heritability of human traits?
An aspect of heritability in many traits
What role do social relationships play in shaping the environment, based on the text?
Actively co-create the environment
How did research on autism challenge the 'Refrigerator Mother' hypothesis?
Claimed autism is not solely due to mother's emotional availability
What does the term 'heritability' refer to in the context of genetic research?
Extent to which genes account for differences in traits
What does the heritability estimate derived from twin studies encapsulate?
All genetic variation
What is the main difference between heritability estimates and genetic pre-determination?
Heritability estimates do not imply that behaviour is genetically pre-determined.
What do high heritability estimates indicate about a trait?
High heritability estimates indicate that a trait's individual differences are more likely due to genetic factors rather than environmental factors.
What do the genetic estimates from twin models represent?
The genetic estimates from twin models represent any and all genes that explain why some individuals are more prone to certain traits or disorders.
What is the main goal of molecular genetic studies of behavior and psychiatric illness?
The main goal is to understand the specific genetic influences on a trait or disorder.
What is the focus of Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in molecular genetics?
GWAS focus on identifying genetic variations across the entire genome that may be associated with specific traits or disorders.
How is the genome defined in terms of DNA base pairs?
The genome consists of 3 billion DNA base pairs, with over 99% being identical for all people.
What is the role of non-coding DNA in gene expression?
Transcribed RNA regulates gene expression
Define a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the context of genetic variation.
Single base change with 2 alleles (C + T)
What type of genetic variation involves changes in the number of chromosomes?
Chromosomal abnormalities
Explain the concept of heritability in relation to traits and genes.
Heritability measures the extent to which genetic differences account for trait differences in a population.
Why are psychiatric disorders considered polygenic and heterogeneous?
Because they involve weak risk effects of multiple genotypes across the population.
What accounts for a significant portion of individual differences in the risk for psychiatric disorders?
Polymorphisms in the genome, such as SNPs
Test your understanding of the main ideas related to individual differences, including medical disorders, psychiatric disorders, and personality and cognition. Explore concepts like twin studies, heritability of traits, and the role of genetic and environmental influences.
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