After reading this chapter, students should be able to:
- Understand what determines the process that transforms the single cell into a person
- Understand and be able to describe genes, their composition, and how genetic information determines the nature and function of every cell in the body
- Explain from where the potential for the vast diversity of human beings comes
- Explain why multiple births occur and the difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins
- Understand the influence of fertility drugs on the rate of multiple births
- Explain how the sex of a child is determined and the ethical considerations surrounding techniques that allow parents to increase the chance of specifying the gender of their child
- Understand and explain the basic mechanisms involved in the way that the genes we inherit from our parents transmit information
- Explain and give an example of the difference between the dominant and the recessive gene
- Explain and give an example of the difference between the genotype and the phenotype
- Explain the difference between being homozygous for a trait and heterozygous for a trait and by a consideration of the transmission of PKU
- Explain the various disorders related to X-linked genes
- Understand the impact and potentiality of mapping the human genome
- Understand why the approach of behavior genetics has led to and will lead to promising developments in the human sciences
- Recognize other examples of when human development goes awry as a result of genes
- Describe and explain the varied roles of a genetic counselor as well as the tests that can be employed if a woman is already pregnant
- Use the example of temperament to explain multifactorial transmission, specifically how development is typically determined by an interaction of genetic and environmental
- Explain how nonhuman studies provide insight into the role of genetics and environment in development
- Explain how the study of twins gives insight into the role of genetics and environment on development
- Explain the influence of genes and environment on the development of physical traits, intelligence, personality characteristics
- Explain how environment can influence the development of schizophrenia
- Understand the work of Sandra Scarr (1992) which proposes various ways in which genes influence the environment
- Explain the process of fertilization
- Explain the various alternatives to conception
- Briefly describe the development that occurs during the three stages of prenatal development
- Understand and explain the threats to a healthy prenatal environment as well as steps that can be taken to optimize the health of the prenatal environment
- Explain the role of fathers in prenatal development
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