Week 4 - Gene, Environment & Development

Life Span Development: A Topical Approach
Third Edition
Week 4
Genetics, Prenatal
Development, and
Birth
Copyright © 2017, 2014, 2011, Pearson Education Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Module 2.1: Earliest Development and the
Foundations of Genetics
Module 2.2: The Interaction of Heredity and
Environment
Module 2.3: Prenatal Growth and Birth
Module 2.1:
Earliest Development and the
Foundations of Genetics
LO 2.1: Describe how genes and chromosomes provide our basic
genetic endowment.
LO 2.2: Compare monozygotic twins with dizygotic twins.
LO 2.3: Describe how the sex of a child is determined.
LO 2.4: Explain the mechanisms by which genes transmit information.
LO 2.5: Describe the field of behavioral genetics.
LO 2.6: Describe the major inherited disorders
LO 2.7: Describe the role of genetic counselors and differentiate
between different forms of prenatal testing.
Genes and Chromosomes:
The Code of Life
Humans begin life simply
Gametes from male and female join
ovum and sperm
Fused gametes create a zygote
Resulting combination of their genetic
instructions - over 2 billion chemically
coded messages - is sufficient to begin
creation of a human
Figure 2.1 - Contents of a Single Human
Cell
Genes
Specific DNA sequences
Chromosomes
Rod-shaped DNA portions
in 23 pairs
Contain genetic blueprint
for individuals
Replicate through mitosis
Multiple Births
Different kinds of multiple births

• Monozygotic
• Dizygotic
Causes of multiple births

• Fertility drugs
• Racial, ethnic, and national
differences
Figure 2.3 -
Establishing
the Sex
of the Child
Mixing and Matching of
Genes
Basics of genetics
• Dominant traits: expressed traits
• Recessive traits: unexpressed traits
• Genotype: combination of genetic material present but

outwardly invisible
• Phenotype: is the observable trait, the trait that is actually

seen.
Table 2.1 - Genetics and Selected Disorders and
Traits
Behavioral Trait Current Beliefs about Genetic Basis
Huntington gene localized to the terminal portion
Huntington’s disease
of the short arm of chromosome 4.
Obsessive-Compulsive Several potentially relevant genes have been
Disorder (OCD) identified but additional research is needed to
verify.
Fragile X mental retardation Two genes identified.
Early onset (familial) Three distinct genes identified. Most cases caused
Alzheimer’s disease by single-gene mutation on chromosomes 21, 14,
and 1.
Attention deficit Evidence in some studies has linked ADHD with the
hyperactivity disorder dopamine D4 and D5 genes, but the complexity of
(ADHD) the disease makes it difficult to identify an specific
gene beyond reasonable doubt.
Alcoholism Research suggests that genes which affect the
activity of neurotransmitters serotonin and GABA
likely are involved in risk for alcoholism.
There is no agreement, but links to chromosomes 1,
Schizophrenia 5, 6, 10, 13, 15, and 22 have been reported.
Inherited and Genetic Disorders:
When Development Deviates from the
Norm
 Disorders include:
 Down Syndrome
 Fragile X Syndrome
 Sickle-cell disease
 Causes
 Genetics
 Spontaneous mutation
 Environmental insult
When Development Deviates from
the Norm
 Down Syndrome
 A disorder produced by the
presence of an extra
chromosome on the 21st
pairs.
 Also referred to as
mongolism.
 Most frequent cause of
mental retardation.
 Occurs in about 1 out of 500
births
When Development Deviates from the
Norm
 Fragile X syndrome
 an inherited condition characterized by an X chromosome that is
abnormally susceptible to damage, especially by folic acid
deficiency.
 Affected individuals tend to have limited intellectual functions.
• Sickle- cell anemia

• A blood disorder that gets its name from the shape of the
red blood cells in those who have it.
• Symptoms include poor appetite, stunted growth, swollen
stomach, and yellowish eyes.
Behavioral Genetics
Genetic Counseling: Predicting the
Future from the Genes of the Parent
 DNA-based genetic tests are currently available for a variety of

diseases, including:
 Alzheimer’s disease
 Cystic fibrosis
 Fragile X syndrome
 Hemophilia
 Sickle-cell disease
Genetic counseling focuses on helping people deal with

issues relating to inherited disorders.
Module 2.2:
The Interaction of
Heredity and
Environment
LO 2.8: Explain how the environment and genetics work together to

determine human characteristics.
LO 2.9: Summarize the methods by which researchers study the
interaction of genetic and environmental factors in development.
LO 2.10: Examine how genetics and the environment jointly influence
physical traits, intelligence, and personality.
LO 2.11: Describe ways in which genes influence the environment.
The Role of the Environment in
Determining the Expression of
Genes: From Genotype and
Phenotype
 A given behavior is not caused solely by

genetic factors; nor is it caused solely by
environmental forces
• Multifactorial transmission- diseases and

health traits that involve multiple genes
and complex patterns of inheritance
Figure 2.6 - Possible Sources of Intelligence
Studying Development: How Much
Is Nature? How Much Is Nurture?
Nonhuman animal studies
• Controlling genetics and environment
Human studies
• Adoption
• Twin studies
• Family studies
Conclusion: all traits, characteristics and behaviors are the

joint result of the combination and interaction of nature and
nurture
Genetic and Environmental
Influences on Personality: Born
to Be Outgoing?
Two of the “Big Five” personality
traits are linked to genetic factors:
Neuroticism
Extroversion
Contentiousness
Openness
Agreeableness
“Big Five” personality traits
 Neuroticism- degree of emotional stability an
individual characteristically displays
 Extroversion- degree to which a person seeks to
be with others, to behave in outgoing manner
and generally to be sociable
 Contentiousness- high levels of thoughtfulness,
with good impulse control and goal-directed
behaviors.
 Openness- characteristics such as imagination
and insight, and those high in this trait also tend to
have a broad range of interests.
 Agreeableness- attributes such as trust, altruism,
kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors.
Figure 2.8
-Inheriting
Traits
A Fundamental Principle
Within the debate about the relative
influence of nature and nurture on
behavior:
• Role of genetics is often to produce a
tendency toward a future course of
development
• Role of environment affects when and
whether a certain behavioral
characteristic will actually be displayed
Can Genes Influence the
Environment?
Three ways in which a child's genetic predisposition may
influence her or his environment:
• Active- focus on those aspects of environment that
are most connected with their genetically determined
abilities. An active child will gravitate toward sports
• Passive- less direct, a sports oriented parent who
has genes that promote good physical coordination
may provide many opportunities for a child to play
sports
• Evocative- an infants demanding behavior may cause
parents to be more attentive to the infant’s needs
Describe the picture
Describe the picture
Describe the pictures
Which one is phenotype?
How about genotype?
THANK YOU

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Life Span Development: A Topical Approach

Different kinds of multiple births

Causes of multiple births

• Genotype: combination of genetic material present but

• Phenotype: is the observable trait, the trait that is actually

• Sickle- cell anemia

 DNA-based genetic tests are currently available for a variety of

Genetic counseling focuses on helping people deal with

LO 2.8: Explain how the environment and genetics work together to

 A given behavior is not caused solely by

• Multifactorial transmission- diseases and

Conclusion: all traits, characteristics and behaviors are the

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