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Genes and Behaviour

1) Genes store hereditary information in the form of DNA located on chromosomes inside cell nuclei. Genes influence observable traits and functions known as phenotypes. 2) Twin studies have found genetics account for about 70% of intelligence variation, with identical twins showing higher IQ concordance rates even when reared apart. 3) However, results are correlational and not causal due to confounding variables. Epigenetic changes from environmental influences can also impact gene expression and phenotypes without altering DNA sequences.

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pankhuri chaturvedi
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228 views

Genes and Behaviour

1) Genes store hereditary information in the form of DNA located on chromosomes inside cell nuclei. Genes influence observable traits and functions known as phenotypes. 2) Twin studies have found genetics account for about 70% of intelligence variation, with identical twins showing higher IQ concordance rates even when reared apart. 3) However, results are correlational and not causal due to confounding variables. Epigenetic changes from environmental influences can also impact gene expression and phenotypes without altering DNA sequences.

Uploaded by

pankhuri chaturvedi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Psychology

BLOA- Genes and Behaviour


Pankhuri Chaturvedi
To what extent do genes influence human behaviour.
The human body’s cells have a nucleus, often deemed as the brain of the cell,
contains chromosomes. These thread like structures have the DNA
(deoxyribonycleic acid) molecule, it stores information. It is a code made up of a
one sequence of four nitrogenous bases which pair up to form base pairs.
Information is coded in this sequence of bases. This sequence is divided into 23
chromosomes such that each chromosome contains a part of the sequence. All
humans have 23 chromosome pairs. A gene is a unit of hereditary, a region of DNA
that encodes a specific trait or function. Alleles are different forms of the gene.
They can either be dominant or recessive. The subsequent combination of alleles
that an individual possesses for a specific gene is their genotype. The sum of an
organism’s observable characteristics is their phenotype. 

Genes therefore have a substantial influence on our behaviour. However there is


another factor that influences behaviour which is environment (one’s surroundings
which could be described as one’s education, friends, family income, etc.) It has
been long debated whether which one of environment and genes has a greater
influence on behaviour.

To analyse the extent to which genes in particular influence behaviour, I would look
at twin studies in tandem with the concept of niche-picking and epigenetics.

Niche-picking is the phenomenon that one’s genetics lead to the choosing certain
environments that influence their behaviour. In this theory genetics have an
influence on environment which essentially means environments don’t have much
influence over behaviour.

Bouchard and McGue investigated the relative influence pf environment and


genetic factors on intelligence. A cross-cultural correlational study of more than
100 pairs of reared-apart twins and siblings whose data was compared with twins
and siblings reared together. The participants comprised identical (monozygotic/
MZ) twins and non-identical (dizygotic/DZ) twins, with an average age of 41 years.
MZ twins are often used in genetic research because they have identical or almost
identical genes. Each participant underwent over 50 hours of psychological testing
and interviews. In twin research, the correlation found between each twin and
therefore presumable between genetic inheritance and a particular behaviour is
called the concordance rate. The concordance rates for IQ were: MZ twins reared
together: 86% (0.86), MZ twins reared apart: 76% (0.76), DZ twins reared together:
55% (0.55) and Biological siblings reared together: 47% (0.47). Bouchard and
McGue concluded that about 70% of intelligence is heritable, meaning that genes
account for 70% of the variation in intelligence from one person to the next.

This study was the large of its kind and had a large sample size given the strict
parameters of the study (monozygotic twins reared apart), it also had a control
group. However, results remain correlational due to the fact that there are so many
confounding variables. Twins are not representative of whole population
threatening ecological validity. There is a very low potential for repetition of this
experiment. There is also serious potential for bias in twin studies, as twins seek
similarities.

Genes are not shown in behaviour if they are expressed. Some genes can be
suppressed completely. The process when chemicals are added to DNA and so
repress gene transcription is know as methylation. Regulation of gene expression
results in epigenetic changes which is deviation for phenotypes from the genetic
code in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes can be attributed to environmental
influences.

Kaminsky et al (2008) conducted an extensive case study on pair of identical twins


using genetic and personality tests. Participants were two 49 year old female MZ
twins. One was a war journalist while the other was an office manager at a law
firm. They had the same environment till they were 17. But after that the war
journalist led home and chose this career, she was exposed to a lot of death and
destruction. She married late and didn’t have children. She also reportedly drank in
excess. The other one settled do early with a career in law, married young and had
two children.

According to results of personality tests the law firm twin had a tendency to
overreact to minor inconveniences whereas the war twin had been desensitised.
The law firm twin also was more risk aversive. Variations in gene expression were
examined comparing methylation in the twins. This was the DLXI gene. This gene
is responsible for stress. In conclusion, it was noted that the discordance in DLXI
gene methylation can explain the reduced overall level of anxiety in the war twin as
compared to the law firm twin. This portrays that environment may sometimes
influence genetic mechanisms as well.

This study is not very conclusive as a case study of one pair of twins has low
ecological validity. Gene expression in blood cells and brain cells may be different.
There might be a difference in methylation since birth in the twins meaning that
there was no influence of environment on gene expression.

These studies show that there is no distinct answer as which of the environment
and genetics has a higher influence on behaviour. Both work together to form
behaviour. Sometimes environment is more dominant and other times genes are
the determining factor.

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