After reading and studying
the material in this chapter, you should be able to answer the following
questions.
1. What
do evolution and species heredity contribute to our understanding of universal
patterns of development? What are the basic principles of
2. What
are the basic workings of individual heredity, including the contributions of
genes, chromosomes, the zygote, and the processes of mitosis and meiosis? Note
the difference between genotype and phenotype.
3. How
are traits passed from parents to offspring? What is an example of how a child
could inherit a trait through each of the mechanisms?
4. What
tests are used to screen for genetic abnormalities? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of using techniques like these to test for prenatal problems? Name several abnormalities that can currently be detected with
prenatal screening.
5. What
methods are used to assess the influences of heredity and environment on
behavioral characteristics? Describe the logic of the methods, as well as
strengths and weaknesses of each method.
6. How
do genes, shared environmental, and nonshared
environmental factors contribute to individual differences?
7. How
do genes and environments contribute to individual differences in intellectual
ability, personality and temperament, and psychological disorders?
8.
What
are three ways that genes and environments correlate to influence behavior?