Codes of Life: Studies of Twins Separated at Birth
In recent years a group of scientists known as behavior geneticists have been probing the relative impact of genetic and environmental influences using twin studies and comparing adoptive and biological siblings with one another. Because twins may...
Codes of Life: Gene-Environment Interaction
Using twin and adoption studies, behavior geneticists can mathematically estimate the degree to which variation among individuals can be attributed to their differing genes. The concept is heritability, the extent to which genes predispose certain...
Codes of Life: Evolutionary Psychology and Sexual Attitudes
Although men and women differ in their attitudes toward casual sex, evolutionary psychologists point out the appeal of pairing to extend one's genetic lineage. What do men and women find attractive in the opposite sex? In a survey of over 10,000...
Codes of Life: Molecular Geneticists Search for Specific Genes that Influence Behavior
Molecular geneticists are using DNA techniques to find the combination of genes, often hundreds in number, that indicate risk for a particular trait like reading disability. Although some critics feel such knowledge may unfairly label a child, resea...
Codes of Life: Temperament Studies
Temperament, or behavioral style, seems to be genetically influenced, as parents with several children will attest. Jerome Kagan highlights three areas in which researchers find temperamental biases: reaction to things that are new or unfamiliar...
Codes of Life: Genes-Our Biological Blueprint
Genes are DNA segments that provide the code for assembling protein molecules, the building blocks of human development. All of our abilities and behaviors have some genetic component. Whether or not the genes get turned on or off may depend the...
Codes of Life: Evolutionary Psychology and Adaptation
Genetic predispositions help explain both our shared human nature as well as our individual differences. Evolutionary psychology takes a broader view, over a longer period of time, to determine the strategies that are useful for preserving the spe...