Running head: BEHAVIORAL GENETICS IN FAMILIES

Behavioral Genetics in Families Name Professor Course Date

BEHAVIORAL GENETICS IN FAMILIES Introduction Research information pools indicate modifications in the environment could result to positive behavioral outcomes. Parallel to sociological research on behavior, bodies of scientific research on genetics have continuously linked behavior to genetics. This studies show that behavioral factors have relationships with genetic influences. Increased understanding of behavioral factors and their relationship to genetics will provide information on environmental mechanisms applicable in prevention sciences (Carnegie Mellon University, 2009). Family interactions provide crucial impetus for personal outcomes. The theory of inclusive fitness by Hamilton suggests that immense genetic relatedness results to altruistic actions between family members. In quantitative, behavioral genetics, in families, naturally occurring variations in genetic

relatedness members of the family identify environmental and genetic contributions to behavior. The twin design can be immensely useful in such a study. In the twin study, differences and similarities in fraternal and identical twins are compared with an aim of estimating environmental and genetic influences (Leve, Harold, & Patterson, 2010). In order for the study to obtain conclusive results, the adoption design is highly useful in determining environmental influences that identify similarities between family members. In this study, adopted children placed in nonrelated family members do not have genetic relatedness. However, they share the same setting with other family members (Turkheimer, 2008). Thereafter, molecular genetics studies are compared with a focus on measured genes through the collection of DNA. Various studies have shown interactions between measured genes and measured environments. Conclusion

BEHAVIORAL GENETICS IN FAMILIES Behavioral genetic can be studied through the application of a number of techniques.

These include selective breeding, which is unethical on humans. However, ethical studies such as family and adoption studies can be used. Family studies correlate the extent of genetic relatedness amongst family members with the scale of personality resemblance. Greater genetic relatedness results to higher heritability and similarities. Twin studies consider the heritability of identical and fraternal twins.

BEHAVIORAL GENETICS IN FAMILIES References Carnegie Mellon University. (2009). The Effects Of Genetic Relatedness And Age On Competition and Family Niches. Relatedness and Competition. Page 2-7. Leve, L. Harold, G. & Patterson, G. (2010). Refining Intervention Targets in Family Based

Research: Lessons from Quantitative Behavioral Genetics. Association for Psychological Science. Page 3-6. Turkheimer, E. (2008). Three Laws Of Behavior Genetics And What They Mean. Current Directions in Psychological Science. Page 160-165.