Glossary
Adoption Studies
Research that examines whether adopted children are more similar to their biological parents (genetics) or their adoptive parents (environment) on specific traits.
Example:
If an adopted child shares a similar artistic talent with their biological parent but not their adoptive parent, an adoption study might suggest a genetic predisposition.
Environment (Nurture)
All external factors influencing an individual, including physical surroundings, social interactions, and cultural influences.
Example:
Growing up in a bilingual household can lead to a child's fluency in multiple languages, showcasing the impact of their environment.
Genes
Basic units of heredity made up of DNA, providing the instructions for an organism's traits.
Example:
The specific genes you inherit from your parents determine your blood type.
Genotype
An organism's complete genetic makeup, referring to the actual set of genes an individual possesses for a trait.
Example:
Even if two siblings both have brown eyes, their underlying genetic code, or genotype, for eye color might be slightly different.
Heredity (Nature)
The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring, representing the biological blueprint for an individual's makeup.
Example:
A child inheriting their parent's natural curly hair demonstrates the influence of heredity.
Heritability
A statistical estimate of the proportion of variation in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic differences.
Example:
If the heritability of conscientiousness is found to be 0.40, it means 40% of the differences in conscientiousness among a group of people can be explained by genetic factors.
Phenotype
The observable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype and environmental influences.
Example:
A person's height, hair color, and even certain personality traits are all aspects of their phenotype.
Twin Studies
Research that compares identical twins (100% genetically identical) to fraternal twins (about 50% genetically similar) to assess the relative influence of genes and environment on traits.
Example:
Researchers might use twin studies to see if identical twins raised apart still share similar personality traits, suggesting a genetic link.