Behavioral Genetics

Definition: Behavioral genetics is a field of study that investigates the influence of genes and hereditary factors on human behavior.

Genetic Factors

Definition: Genetic factors refer to the variations in an individual’s DNA sequence that can contribute to the development and manifestation of behavioral traits.

Heritability

Definition: Heritability is a statistical measure that estimates the proportion of variance in a certain trait or behavior that can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals in a population.

Twin Studies

Definition: Twin studies are research designs that compare the behavioral similarities between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to determine the relative contributions of genetics and environment to specific traits.

Gene-Environment Interactions

Definition: Gene-environment interactions occur when the impact of genes on behavior varies depending on different environmental contexts and experiences.

Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS)

Definition: GWAS is a study approach that examines the entire genome of a large number of individuals to identify genetic variants associated with specific behavioral traits or disorders.

Molecular Genetics

Definition: Molecular genetics investigates the specific genes and their molecular mechanisms that influence behavior, aiming to identify the biological pathways underlying behavioral phenotypes.