With Reference to Relevant Research Studies, to What Extent Does Genetic Inheritance Influence Behavior?

There is currently a substantial body of question bread and butter the argument that in that location is a transmissible beguile on numerous military man behaviours, such(prenominal)(prenominal) as homosexuality, intelligence and reputation. integrity indication that air has a genetic basis is that behavior is often species specific. Examples hold the warning behavior of prairie dogs or the verbalise to mouth sharing of blood amongst lamia bats. The closer our genetic resemblance is to a certain species, the much than behaviors we rich person in common. Since long it has in addition been known that behavior can be bred true, which is the reason wherefore around breeds display specific behaviors. look is also known to change in response to changes in biological structures or processes. Examples allow the use of the SSRI drug which cast ordains the reuptake of serotonin in the synapses and whence our mood, or the loss of important cognitive functions referabl e to brain damage. As the anatomical structure and the physiological processes depend on our DNA we can infer that genes indirectly baffle our behavior. It is important to bear in mind that the brain can alter its structure from experience, but this capacity mustiness clearly be genetically determined. around researchers agree that all behaviors argon more than or less indirectly influenced by genes. Where they disagree is the extent to which genes influence behavior. round behavior also seems to be more influenced by genes than others. The influence of cognitive, social and heathen factors on behavior can non be denied, and even off though there may be a genetic predisposition for some(prenominal) disorders, the extent to which the genotype is expressed in its phenotype will depend on purlieual influences.The stress-vulnerability model, for instance, assumes that the onset and symptoms of mental disorders argon influenced by three interacting factors biological, enviro nmental and protecting factors that may protect the individual against development of a disorder. A study that illust identifys the fundamental interaction of genes and environment on behavior is a molecular genetics study by Caspi et al. (2003). Caspi et al. investigated the kin surrounded by the 5-HTT gene and occurrence of clinical impression in 847 New Zealanders. The 5-HTT gene is trusty for the production of serotonin in the body, which in turn has an influence on our mood.A DNA sample was taken of to each one participant, who also was asked to answer a questionnaire on feeling. In order to ensure the participants truth in their self report, their responses were cross look into with a friend of their own choice. The researchers also controlled for levels of stressful vivification events. The results showed that participants with a concisely allele on the 5-HTT gene had an increase vulnerability for depression between the ages of 21 to 26. The study also put that t he participants however had developed depression if they had suffered from stressful life events, no matter whether they had a thirst for the disorder or not.Replications of the Caspi study in different countries by Chiao and Blizinsky (2010) further project a gene environment interaction for depression. They investigated the prevalence of the short allele in the 5-HTT gene in different populations and found that there are higher frequencies in populations that are considered to redeem a socialist culture, such as Asians, and that there are lower frequencies in populations with an individualistic culture, such as Europeans or North Americans. This seems counter-intuitive, considering that depression is more common in individualist cultures than collectivist cultures.Asians should genetically be more prone to depression than Europeans and North Americans, to that degree Europeans and North Americans are more liable(predicate) to suffer from it. The research is suffering fro m several(prenominal) methodological problems. It is possible that depression is as common or in the eastern United States as in the West, but that it is underreported. If the selective information is to be trusted, it suggests that Asian cultures may have demote protective factors against the development of depression compared to Western culture, such as better social support.These findings raise potential honest issues of discrimination and prejudice. Because of the methodological weaknesses of the research, the findings are not conclusive. Most research supports an interaction between genes and environment on behavior. Genetic research on twins and families usually heartbeat the degree of comparableity in characteristics, such as intelligence, between genetically associate and unrelated individuals. From this comparison, a concordance rate between 0 and 100 is calculated.If the rate is close to 100, the behavior is assumed to have a strong genetic basis. On the other hand, if the rate is low, environmental factors are thought to play a study part. virtually of behaviors that have the highest concordance order are homosexuality, schizophrenia, alcoholism, general mood levels, and intelligence, with fair(a) concordance place between 60 and 70. Behaviors with lower concordance rates include depression, personality, religious values, political beliefs and vocational interests, with middling concordance rates of around 30 %.It may seem curious that some of the latter behaviors have a miserable genetic component, and it is possible that the concordance rates are flawed by methodological issues. The concordance rates fluctuate between studies of the same(p) behavior. This may be due poor control of confounding variables. Some relationships may be purely coincidental, such as in a famed study by Bouchard where two akin twins raised apart had a wife with the same name and in addition had named their son by the same name.Even if monozygotic twins that are raised in different families use of goods and services same behavior, it can also be because they are raised in similar social and cultural settings, because they look similar and therefore are treated the same, or because they exercise similar behavior patterns of take children. Also, one cannot rule out that researcher expectancies and small sample sizes can influence the concordance rates. Finally, there is a establish validity problem of the studied behaviors. Concepts such as intelligence lack an agree upon definition, and some mental disorders are viewed other than in different countries.It is therefore touchy to compare concordance rates between such studies, as they are amount different concepts. Even so, it is possible that if personality and talent has a genetic component, individuals may be biologically more addicted to some interests than others, and thus may be more likely to adapt a certain value system or vocation. Even though there are methodological probl ems involved in genes and behavior research, there is overwhelming evidence that there is an influence of genetic inheritance on most behaviors. The extent of this genetic influence is however still controversial, and may commute depending on the behavior.