...families. This suggests that genes and biological factors play a role in the explanation of schizophrenia.. The closer the genetic relationship the more likely the people are to share the disorder. Evidence from family studies by Gottesman showed that when both parent are schizophrenic then there is a 46% chance of the child getting it, however, if only one parent had it, it dropped to 16% and dropped to a further 1% when the sibling of the child had schizophrenia. This suggests that a genetic factor is involved. Gottesman also looked at schizophrenics whose father had an identical twin. He found that there was a 17% of being schizophrenic when the father was but he also found that there was also 17% chance of developing the disease when the father’s twin had schizophrenia but the father didn’t. MZ twins share 100% of their genes; DZ twins share 50% of their genes. If genes are a factor we would expect more identical twins to share the disorder than non-identical. Rosenthal took a case study which had a set of female quadruplets. They all developed schizophrenia although the onset and symptoms were very different. This could have been a result of having a troubled upbringing. This suggests a strong heritable component. However, most first degree relatives and twins share the same or similar environments so it is difficult to separate genetic and environmental influences. Adoption studies compare people who have been raised in a different environment from their biological relatives...
Words: 1210 - Pages: 5
...Introduction: Epigenetics is the study of heritable variations in gene activity and expression without alternation in DNA sequence, this kind of stable alternations can be passed down to progeny in short term, however, in some broader definitions, heritability is not necessary condition, for example, in the overview of the Roadmap Epigenomics Project, epigenetics is regarded as ‘also stable, long-term, alterations in the transcriptional potential of a cell that are not necessarily heritable’. Patterns of epigenetic modifications are thought to include: (1) methylation on cytosine (DNA methylation); (2) modification of histone proteins and chromatin architecture; (3) small and non-coding RNA-based mechanisms. Two major epigenetic modifications: DNA methylation and histone modifications have been focused in studies of development and cell proliferation over the past few years [1,2]. Recently, the epigenetic modifications are found associating with memory, behaviour and environment. For instance, memories formation, dynamic regulation in behaviour changes...
Words: 1449 - Pages: 6
...The nature and nurture of a person varies depending on genetics and the environment that the person is surrounded by. Everyone is different in their own way and each person reacts differently based on the situation that they may be in. Heredity, genetics, intelligence, environment, language development, and life experiences are examples that represent nature and nurture that can impact a person’s life (56). Nature is defined by Spencer A. Rathus on page 56 as the inborn, innate character of an organism, which in simpler terms is heredity. The genotype of a person is what psychologists refer to as their nature, and a person’s phenotype represents the interaction of their nature (56). Everyone is unique in their own way so when we were children, we acquired language differently than others. Some children will say their first...
Words: 851 - Pages: 4
...the basic elements of the nature-nurture controversy. The amount of influence that genes have on personality verses the influence of learning experiences is not only related to genetics but also psychology. The debate of nature- nurture controversy has been studied for over 130 years and is still being researched. “After studying many prominent English families, Galton concluded that intelligence is inherited- that nature, not nurture, is responsible for intelligence” (Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2005, p. 278). Nature refers to an individual’s innate qualities. Genes is considered nature, the physical and personality traits determined by ones genes will always stay the same. The coding of genes determines an individual’s traits such as eye color, hair color, and height. Nurture refers to personal experiences. This refers to ones childhood and how they were raised. This debate will always be controversial. An individual’s traits are predetermined by their genes but life experiences are what shape a person. There have been many research studies completed regarding this debate with no conclusive results. Discuss what is controversial in the nature- nurture debate. Nature versus nurture is one of the most frequently debated issues among psychologists. The term was created by a British researcher Sir Francis Galton who studied the role of genes in intelligence. The debate is about the importance of an individual’s inherited qualities versus personal experiences in determining...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
...remains under scrutiny whether these traits are learned or predetermined by specific genes. Physical characteristics can be contributed to hereditary, i.e. eye color or hair color. When referring to nature, it is assumed that what and who we are, as humans, comes in a natural state or inherited. In other words, we are going to be who we are without the influence on how we were raised and matured in our environment. On the other hand, nurture is viewed as what or who we are as a result of our influences and our environment or surroundings. Homosexuality is one of the hottest topics today. One of the reasons for the popularity is the current debate on same sex marriage, along with homosexual human rights campaigns going on in today’s public arena. More so either this “behavior” is by choice or predetermined by genes. The Studies One of the best research in this area is on identical twins. Howard Gruber, the director of the Institute for Cognitive Studies at Rutgers University in Newark, reviewed and quoted two books written by Susan L. Farber, “Identical Twins Reared Apart, A Reanalysis ” and Niels Juel-Nielsen, “Individual and Environment, Monozygotic Twins Reared Apart (Gruber, 1981). He explained that the importance of the study of identical twins is that they have the same genes. If reared together, they would have the identical conditions their similarities could be either environment or...
Words: 1245 - Pages: 5
...Hoffnung, 2013). Topic one: biological foundation and genetics. In this subject, I am going to use the photo as the method of discussion. The choice of photo is because there are several photos I have come across several pictures about the biological foundation and genetics. For instance, the picture below shows the relationship between genetic variation in the biology, the environment and the behavior of an individual. The above talking point gave me the desire to find more about the genes because I realized that I know microscopic about the hereditary genetics. I had petite knowledge about the dominant and the recessive genes in which I did not know the parts they played in a human body. The knowledge that I have about genetics is that it is not always guaranteed for the traits of the parents always pass to the children. For instance, leadership is a character that some parents do have but they happen to have some of the rudest children. Moreover, there is no any relationship between genes and a person’s lifespan. Death is a natural happening that comes an unannounced. The only that that I knew genes do influence are the body complexions like the skin color, height, weight gain and eye color. Moreover, intelligence is another trait that is hereditary though it does not always work that way (Alexander, 2013). There are some children from poor background whose parents were not that intelligent and they do manage to be very successful people in their future. According to the...
Words: 1741 - Pages: 7
...What Is Mental Health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: * Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry * Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse * Family history of mental health problems Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Mental health is a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder;[1] it is the "psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment".[2] From the perspective of positive psychology or holism, mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.[1] According to World Health Organization (WHO) mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others."[3] WHO...
Words: 1759 - Pages: 8
...Running Head: Sensory Perceptions Sensory Perceptions: The Accuracy of Sensory Information With The Role of Nature and Nurture Twyala Pennell PHI 210: Critical Thinking July 18, 2011 It is a commonly known that we humans have five senses: touch, taste, smell, hearing and vision. All of these senses that we have, work together to give us a reliable picture of the world and where we belong in it. Our senses incorporate to make us understand who we are, where we are, and what is happening around us. Because our brain feeds and process information about sights, sounds, textures, smells, tastes and movement in an organized way, we put meaning to our sensory experiences, therefore, we are able to respond and behave accordingly. We may not see the world as it is that’s where accuracy of sensory information is determined. False information can be provided with just alone senses but working together with the accuracy of sensory information will make the chances greater. Three reasons to believe in the accuracy of sensory information are; the ability to use our senses to provide data so that our brain can identify the truth, senses help tie the brain and emotions together, and gives the mind the potential to determine what reality is. The reasons listed above are extremely important when it comes to the accuracy of sensory information because there will be consequences that would mean you’re changing the world around you. The idea of subjective reality asserts...
Words: 799 - Pages: 4
...Being one of three members in my family with ADHD, I have always been curious as to the different causes of ADHD such as genetics compared to the environment. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is “one of the most common childhood-onset psychiatric disorders; it afflicts some 5% to 10% of children and adolescents” (Susan). After numerous studies, results verified, “children of parents with ADHD are at high risk for meeting diagnostic criteria for the disorder” and that childhood cases of ADHD “continue through adolescence and adulthood have an especially strong familial component” (Joseph). For background statistics on ADHD, ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence...
Words: 841 - Pages: 4
...beneficial because he discusses the importance and the change in microbes of the infant gut. He states that over time, the infants’ microbiota becomes more variable and less stable (Praveen). In the first couple years of an infant’s life, their intestinal microbiome goes from being sterile (at the time they’re in the womb) to containing an immense amount of microbes—the same amount as an adult. Three factors that heavily influence the colonization process include feeding mode, probiotic treatment, and other environmental factors. Any uncommon colonization in the neonatal period can create detrimental affects, including an increase susceptibility to immunological and metabolic disease (Praveen). Therefore, this is a very critical period in which the host must develop the right kind of commensal microbiota to maintain a stable, homeostatic...
Words: 1987 - Pages: 8
...conclusion by comparing the genomes of chimpanzees and bonobos to the genome of humans. In this paper I will discuss why all organisms are related to each other, including humans. I will do this by using natural selection as a mechanism for evolution. Natural selection as a mechanism for evolution explains how organisms have changed over time to adapt to their environment. I will also provide the percent of relatedness in terms of nucleotide sequence. I will also discuss the Human genome project and its importance. The benefits of the human genome project extend far beyond determining who our closest ancestor is and how closely humans are related to mice and other organisms. In this paper I will also look at the technology that has been developed to enhance the findings the Human Genome Project. Humans Are Related To Other Organisms Humans share about 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees and bonobos. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acids) is the molecule that makes up an organism’s genome. DNA is located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and is found in the nucleoid of prokaryotic cells. DNA consist of genes which are instructions to make molecules called proteins. DNA’s serves a significant purpose to any organism it holds the instructions that is required for an organism to grow, survive and reproduce. DNA is now used by scientist to test the degree in to which one species differs from another and simultaneously testing the degree in to which they are related. Human’s...
Words: 1371 - Pages: 6
...Nature Verses Nurture The discussion on the importance of heredity and environment in human development is not new. The nature verses nurture question has been debated for years (Psychology). Nurture side of the debate considers all the environmental influences on an individual after conception. While the nature side of the debate focus on nature that which is inherited, or know as genetics. The nature verse nurture discussion has been a part of the history of psychology that goes back to Francis Galton. Galton was influenced by the book, The Origin of Species written by his cousin, Charles Darwin. The Origin of Species has been criticized for over simplifying two theories of why a lifestyle of wealth, education and privilege seems to be passed on to biological children. Galton takes credit for the phrase in his English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture, first published in 1874. In this book he states that nature and nurture are, "a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under two distinct heads the innumerable elements of which personality is composed. Nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world and nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth” (p.12). It is thought that how one is nurtured is what controls the psychological aspects of child development and the concept of growth applies to the biological facets of human life. When infants bonds to the individual(s) bestowing love and affection, she/he has received, she/he...
Words: 811 - Pages: 4
...Nature vs. Nurture The nature versus nurture is about the importance of people natural qualities versus personal experiences. Personal experiences are nurture. It’s the different between in distinguishing the differences in a person actions, such as physical and behavioral traits. People mostly get all of their behavior from nurture. Both of these terms play a role in development. EDITNature vs nurture in personality traits Personality is a frequently cited example of a heritable trait that has been studied in twins and adoptions. Identical twins reared apart are far more similar in personality than randomly selected pairs of people. Likewise, identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins. Also, biological siblings are more similar in personality than adoptive siblings. Each observation suggests that personality is heritable to a certain extent. However, these same study designs allow for the examination of environment as well as genes. Adoption studies also directly measure the strength of shared family effects. Adopted siblings share only family environment. Unexpectedly, some adoption studies indicate that by adulthood the personalities of adopted siblings are no more similar than random pairs of strangers. This would mean that shared family effects on personality are zero by adulthood. As is the case with personality, non-shared environmental effects are often found to out-weigh shared environmental effects. That is, environmental effects that are typically thought...
Words: 789 - Pages: 4
...Introduction There has been numerous research into the development of intelligence and the role on which genetic and environmental factors (Nature & Nurture) play on the shaping of intelligence. Intelligence has many definitions and meanings, throughout the context of this paper and commonly defined among neuroscientists, intelligence will be understood as one’s overall cognitive capabilities (Toga and Thomson 2005). Many studies show the weight of impact that genetics play on shaping intelligence however this human intelligence is also highly modified by the environment in which the human being resides. This paper will discuss the theories and studies on how intelligence is shaped by factors which include Genetic and Environmental. It will...
Words: 1450 - Pages: 6
...Cavite State University – Main Indang, Cavite College of Engineering and Information Technology Department of Agriculture and Food Technology AENG 26 Introduction to Environmental Science Term Paper Effects of Genetically Modified Food on Human Amoguis, Jenina R. ECE 3 – 1 Engr. David L. Cero Professor Introduction Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism. Currently available GM foods stem mostly from plants, but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides. In the future, genetic modification could be aimed at altering the nutrient content of food, reducing its allergenic potential, or improving the efficiency of food production systems. The main purpose of genetic modification of food is to improve its taste, output, and make plants disease resistant. Despite these advantages, many people refuse to eat genetically modified foods over concerns that it could be dangerous to their health. However, there is still no detailed study about the long term effects of eating genetically modified foods. Genetically...
Words: 3561 - Pages: 15
