Psychology, Sect. 3.1: Human Genetics

Dominant Allele

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

Recessive Allele

allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele

Epigenetics

study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

Range of Reaction

asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

Heterozygous

consisting of 2 different alleles

Homozygous

consisting of 2 identical alleles

Genotype

genetic makeup of an individual

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

Phenotype

individual's inheritable physical characteristics

Chromosome

long strand of genetic information

Polygenic

multiple genes affecting a given trait

Gene

sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characterisitcs

Allele

specific version of a gene

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to thsoe that are poorly suited for their environments

Mutation

sudden, permanent change in a gene

Identical Twins

twins that develop from the same sperm and egg

Fraternal Twins

twins who develop from 2 different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

Genetic Environmental Correlation

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes