TOPIC 2

HEREDITY AND THE

ENVIRONMENT
 BIOLOGICAL BEGINNINGS
1. FORMING A NEW LIFE
2. MECHANISM OF HEREDITY
- GENOTTYPE – an organism’s full hereditary
information
- PHENOTYPE- an organism’s actual observed
properties

A) The Genetic Code

B) Patterns of Heredity Transmission
1- single gene-pair inheritance
2-sex-linked inheritance
3- polygenic ( or multiple gene) inheritance
4- mutation

C) Abnormalities in genes and chromosomes

D) Genetic Counselling and testing

1- Alphafetoprotein Test ( AFP)
2- Amniocentesis
3- Chorionic Villus Test ( CVT)
 THE PROCESS OF
GENETIC TRANSMISSIONM
THE EGG OR OVUM –
the largest cell in human body, is about 90,000 times
as heavy as the sperm

THE SPERM –
 the smallest cell in the body, is shaped by a head
where the hereditary information is and a whiplike
tail- to search of the ovum.
CHROMOSOMES AND GENES are located
inside the nucleus or center of the cell.
23 chromosomes or 46 chromosomes in all.
Half from the father and mother
Mitosis – a process – a unique feature of
DNA is that it can duplicate itself
Genes –portions of the chromosome’s DNA
molecule
DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
 HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT
1- Behavioural Genetics
- an approach to study the interactions between
heredity and environment quantitatively
- family, adoption and twin studies

2- How heredity and environment work together

-to developing person ( combination of factors such as
biological and psychological makeup, the social,
economic and culture
 HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
REACTION RANGE
1- as individuals have unique genetic makeup, each of us
responds differently to the same environment
2- sometimes different genetic-environmental combinations
can make two people look the same.

GENETIC-ENVIRONMENT COLLELATION
1- PASSIVE CORRELATION - at a younger age, passive
correlation to common as the child has no control over it.
2- EVOCATIVE CORRELATION – the child evokes responses
from others that are influenced by the child’s heredity, and
these responses strengthen the child’s original style.
3-ACTIVE CORRELATION- at older ages – becomes more
common
 ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUNCES ON GENE EXPRESSION
Genes affect children’s behaviour and experiences, but
their behaviour and experiences also affect gene
expression

Epigenesis – development resulting from ongoing,

bidirectional exchanges between heredity and all
levels of the environment
 GENETIC DISORDERS
1- HEMOPHILIA
-blood disease characterized by poor clotting ability

2- DIABETES MELLITUS
 Body’s inability to metabolize carbohydrates and
maintain proper glucose leves

3- PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU)
- Inability to convert phenylketonuria to tyrosine,
untreated, leads to mental retardation
 GENETIC DISORDERS
4- SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA
- Blood disease characterized by malformation of red
blood cells that are low in oxygen

5- DOWN SYNDROME ( trissomy 21)

- Physically and mentally retarded development,
sometimes, cardiovascular and respiratory
abnormalities