Key Terms

1.0 Images of Children: The Jim and Jim Twins

Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart

fraternal twins

identical twins

2.0 The Evolutionary Perspective

natural selection

evolutionary change

cultural change

sociobiology

altruism

genetic determinism

3.0 Heredity

chromosomes

DNA genes

gametes meiosis

reproduction

zygote

in vitro fertilization

infertility

phenylketonuria (PKU)

Down syndrome

sickle-cell anemia

Klinefelter syndrome

Turner syndrome

XYY syndrome

genetic counselor

amniocentesis

ultrasound sonography

chorionic villus test

maternal blood test

4.0 Genetic Principles and Methods

dominant-recessive genes principle

polygenetic inheritance

genotype

phenotype

reaction range

canalization

behavior genetics

twin study

monozygotic twin

identical twin

dizygotic twin

fraternal twin

adoption study

intelligence

5. Heredity-Environment Interaction and Development

interaction

passive genotype/environment interactions

evocative genotype/environment interactions

active (niche-picking) genotype/environment interactions

shared environmental influences

nonshared environmental influences

6.0 Contemporary Concerns

early intervention

prenatal test

Essay and Critical Thinking Questions

Comprehension and Application Essay Questions

We recommend that you follow either our guidelines for "Answering Essay and Critical Thinking Questions,” or those provided by your instructor, when preparing your response to these questions. Your answers to these kinds of questions demonstrate an ability to comprehend and apply ideas discussed in this chapter.

1. Explain the concept of natural selection. Also explain the relationship between natural selection and sociobiology.

2. Explain the relationship among genes, chromosomes, and DNA. Also indicate how these entities function in reproduction.

3. What is infertility? What causes infertility? Explain what an infertile couple can do to have a baby.

4. Indicate and explain at least three examples of abnormalities in genes and chromosomes.

5. Assume that you have received a number of tests to assess fetal abnormalities. Identify and explain each procedure and what you would learn from it.

6. In your own words, what is a genotype and phenotype? Also explain how these concepts relate to the concepts of dominant and recessive genes.

7. Compare and contrast the concepts of reaction range and canalization.

8. Describe the methods used by behavior geneticists to study heredity's influence on behavior.

9. Indicate how you would explain to a friend that heredity and environment interact in various ways to produce development. Also provide an example of each of the three types of interaction and shared and nonshared environmental influences that you would use to help your friend understand this concept.

10. Imagine that you want to start a family. Explain what you would do before attending a session with a genetic counselor and what kinds of questions you would ask during the meeting.