Heredity

The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence
by Kathleen Stassen Berger Seventh Edition
Chapter 3
Heredity and
Environment
Slides prepared by Kate Byerwalter, Ph.D.,
Grand Rapids Community College
The Genetic Code
 Chromosomes: a molecule of DNA that
contains the instructions to make proteins
 The instructions are organized into genes,

the basic unit for transmitting heredity.
 Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs),

and about 25,000 genes.
Berger: The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence, 7th Edition, Chapter 3
Karyotype (Map of Chromosomes)
The Genetic Code (cont.)
 Human genome: the code for making a
human being
 Every person has a slightly different code,

but the human genome is 99.5% the same
for any 2 people.
The Beginnings of Life
 Development begins at conception, when

the sperm penetrates the ovum.
 The organism is first called a zygote, and

is the fused nuclei of sperm and egg.
 The genotype of the zygote is the genetic

information on the 23 chromosome pairs.
Gene Pairs
 Gene pairs are closely matched on 22 of
the 23 chromosomes.
 In some cases, an allele occurs: an

alternate version of variable genes.
 On the 23rd pair, XX = female, XY = male.
Determining a Zygote’s Sex
From One Cell to Many
 The phenotype is the actual appearance

and behavior of a person, and occurs
because some instructions on the
genotype are ignored, and others
amplified.
 This occurs through cell differentiation,
gene-gene (polygenic), and gene-
environment interactions.
Human Genome Project
 The Human Genome Project is an

international effort to map the entire
human genome.
 It has already revealed a great deal about

the nature of genes and genetic variations.
Additive Heredity
 Additive genes combine to make a

phenotype.
 Example: HEIGHT. The inherited genes from
mother and from father are added together.
However, some additive genes get enhanced
by other genes, making their input greater.
Dominant-Recessive Heredity
 A dominant-recessive pattern occurs

when the influence of one gene in the
allele is greater than the other gene.
 Example: Blood types A and B and brown
eyes result from dominant genes.
 This pattern may be X-linked (on the X

chromosome), in which case males are
more affected (e.g., color-blindness).
Twins and Clones
 Dizygotic (fraternal) twins result from

two sperm penetrating two ova, and share
50% of their genes.
 Monozygotic (identical) twins originate

from one zygote, and share 100% genes.
 A clone originates from a live organism.
Dizygotic or monozygotic?
DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF / PHOTOEDIT BRUCE ROBERTS / PHOTO RESEARCHERS, INC.
Multiple Births
 The likelihood of multiple births vary by

age and ethnicity. Fertility treatments
may also cause them.
 Hazards of multiples include birth

complications, death, disease, and
disabilities.
Research on the Effects of Genes
 Researchers have employed several

methods (e.g., twin studies, adoption
studies) to investigate the relative
influence and interaction of genes and
environment in shaping human behavior
and traits.
 The results may surprise you!
Findings from Genetic Research
 Genes affect every aspect of human

behavior.
 The non-shared environment of families is

powerful.
 Genes elicit responses from other people

that shape development (an indirect
effect).
Psychopathology
 Genes have been found to influence
several disorders, including:
 Schizophrenia
 Addiction
 Nearsightedness
 Diabetes
 However, the environment ALSO plays a

key role in these disorders.
Chromosomal Abnormalities
 Chromosomal abnormalities when the

zygote’s cells have fewer or more
chromosomes than 46.
 Maternal age is the most common

correlate of chromosomal abnormalities.
 Many zygotes with chromosomal

abnormalities are spontaneously aborted.
Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
 Down syndrome occurs when a zygote

has 3 copies of chromosome 21.
 Sufferers experience mental slowness,

faster aging, and physical problems.
 Social support and a positive attitude help.
Abnormalities of the 23rd pair
 About 1 in 500 infants have either one too

many or too few chromosomes on the
23rd pair.
 This can lead to underdeveloped sexual

organs (girls), breast development (boys),
or other anomalies.
Dominant Disorders
 Huntington’s disease is a fatal CNS

disorder caused by a genetic miscode. It is
inactive until middle adulthood.
 Tourette syndrome, a dominant disorder,

can lead to uncontrollable tics and
obscenities.
Fragile X Syndrome
 Fragile X syndrome is caused by a single

gene that has 200 repetitions of a triplet.
 The effects of Fragile X include cognitive

deficits and poor social skills.
 Males are at greater risk of developing this

syndrome.
Genetic Counseling
 Genetic counseling provides facts. It is
recommended for:
 Couples from the same ethnic group
 Individuals with a close relative with a genetic
condition
 Couples with a history of infertility or miscarriage
 Women 35 or older, men 40 or older
Genetic Counseling (cont.)
 Genetic counseling raises a number of

ethical and complicated issues.
 Example: What if a couple decides to abort a
child of abnormal height?
 Results are an estimate of risk, not a

guarantee that a disorder will or won’t
occur.
Genetic
Counseling
Decision
Tree for
High-Risk
Couples

Heredity

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The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence

by Kathleen Stassen Berger Seventh Edition

 The instructions are organized into genes,

 Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs),

 Every person has a slightly different code,

 Development begins at conception, when

 The organism is first called a zygote, and

 The genotype of the zygote is the genetic

 In some cases, an allele occurs: an

 On the 23rd pair, XX = female, XY = male.

 The phenotype is the actual appearance

 The Human Genome Project is an

 It has already revealed a great deal about

 Additive genes combine to make a

 A dominant-recessive pattern occurs

 This pattern may be X-linked (on the X

 Dizygotic (fraternal) twins result from

 Monozygotic (identical) twins originate

 A clone originates from a live organism.

DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF / PHOTOEDIT BRUCE ROBERTS / PHOTO RESEARCHERS, INC.

 The likelihood of multiple births vary by

 Hazards of multiples include birth

 Researchers have employed several

 The results may surprise you!

 Genes affect every aspect of human

 The non-shared environment of families is

 Genes elicit responses from other people

 However, the environment ALSO plays a

 Chromosomal abnormalities when the

 Maternal age is the most common

 Many zygotes with chromosomal

 Down syndrome occurs when a zygote

 Sufferers experience mental slowness,

 Social support and a positive attitude help.

 About 1 in 500 infants have either one too

 This can lead to underdeveloped sexual

 Huntington’s disease is a fatal CNS

 Tourette syndrome, a dominant disorder,

 Fragile X syndrome is caused by a single

 The effects of Fragile X include cognitive

 Males are at greater risk of developing this

 Genetic counseling raises a number of

 Results are an estimate of risk, not a

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