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Compare dominant, recessive, and polygenic influences on phenotypic characteristics. Give an example of each.
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Dominant: displayed if one dominant gene from either parent is present.
Ex: brown eyes.
Recessive: displayed if two recessive genes (one from each parent) are present.
Ex: blue eyes.
Polygenic: multiple gene pairs influence phenotype.
Ex: height, skin colour, weight.
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What is a heritability coefficient? Give an example. Explain why it is important to the field of behavioural genetics.
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A heritability coefficient is an estimate of how much of a characteristic is due to genetic factors. Example: height or weight.
This is important to the field of behavioural genetics because we can find out how much of a characteristic is due to genes.
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How are adoption and twin studies used to achieve heritability estimates? What have such studies shown?
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Twin studies are used to achieve heritability estimates in that identical twins have identical genes, while fraternal twins differ as much as regular siblings (50% of genes shared).
Adoption studies are used to achieve heritability estimates in that adoptive siblings have 0% of the same genes, therefore no correlation in genetic contribution.
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What is a reaction range? How does the concept of reaction range illustrate the interaction between heredity and the environment on intelligence? Give an example.
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A reaction range is a range of possibilities.
upper and lower limits that the range allows
we inherit a range of potential expressions of a trait
environmental effects determine where we fall within these limits.
Genetic endowment is believed to create a reaction range within which environment exerts its effects. Enriched environments are expected to allow a person's intelligence to develop to the upper region of his/her reaction range, whereas deprived environments may limit the person's intelligence to the lower portion of the range. The reaction range may cover up to 15-20 points on the IQ scale.
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How would an evolutionary psychologist describe the origin of basic personality traits?
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Evolutionary psychology examines how human behaviour has evolved in response to environmental demands. Basic personality traits would be mutations (random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in behaviour/trait. They are found universally and help us achieve survival and reproduction.
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What is co-operation and altruism? What are their functions according to the evolutionary perspective?
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Co-operation: one individual helps another gain some advantages. It helps them achieve a common goal.
Altruism: one indivicual helps another but there are costs involved. One might put oneself in danger to help another.
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