"Behavioural genetics, also referred to as behaviour genetics, is a field of scientific research that uses genetic methods to investigate the nature and origins of individual differences in behaviour."
Study of DNA and how specific genes influence animal behavior. This area also explores the evolution of behavior and how it changes over time.
DNA and genes: Understanding the basic structure and function of DNA, the building blocks of genes, and how genes are inherited.
Mitosis and meiosis: Understanding cell division and the differences between mitosis and meiosis, which are crucial for understanding genetic inheritance.
Chromosomes: Learning about the physical structures that hold DNA and genes, and how they are organized within a cell.
Genetic variation: The differences in genetic makeup between individuals, which can be due to mutation, recombination, or other factors.
Dominance and recessiveness: Understanding how some genes may be dominant over others and how this affects an organism's traits.
Mendelian genetics: The principles first described by Gregor Mendel, including the laws of segregation and independent assortment.
Genotype and phenotype: The differences between an organism's genetic makeup and the observable traits it displays.
Epigenetics: The study of changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence, but rather by environmental factors.
Gene expression: The process by which genes are turned on or off in response to stimuli or other factors.
Genetic disorders: Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments of genetic diseases or disorders.
Genetic testing: Understanding the different types of genetic testing and their applications, such as diagnosing genetic disorders or determining ancestry.
Genetic counseling: A specialized area of healthcare that provides information and support to individuals and families who may be at risk for genetic conditions.
Synthetic biology: The engineering of biological systems, including designing and creating new DNA sequences, genes, and organisms.
Biotechnology: Using genetic information to develop new technologies or products, such as genetically modified organisms or gene therapy.
Evolutionary genetics: Studying the role of genetics in the process of evolution, including how genetic variation and selection lead to changes in species over time.
Classical genetics: The study of the transmission of traits from one generation to the next through the analysis of gene expression and inheritance patterns.
Molecular genetics: The study of the function and structure of genes and their role in cellular processes.
Population genetics: The study of how gene frequency changes within a population over time, under the influence of various factors such as natural selection, migration, and genetic drift.
Evolutionary genetics: The study of the evolutionary mechanisms that operate at the level of genes, including the role of genetic variation, mutations, and selective pressures in evolutionary change.
Functional genetics: The study of gene function and regulation, including the identification and analysis of the molecular pathways and networks involved in gene expression.
Epigenetics: The study of how modifications to the genome affect gene expression, and how these changes can be inherited across generations.
Genomics: The study of the complete set of DNA in an organism, including the analysis of gene structure, variation, and function.
Pharmacogenetics: The study of how genetic variation affects an individual's response to drugs, including drug metabolism, efficacy, and toxicity.
Medical genetics: The study of genetic disorders and diseases, including the identification and diagnosis of genetic mutations and the development of treatments based on genetic information.
Psychiatric genetics: The study of genetic factors involved in mental disorders, including the identification of susceptibility genes and the development of gene-based therapies.
Cancer genetics: The study of the genetic basis of cancer, including the identification of genes involved in tumor initiation, growth, and progression.
"The field broadly investigates the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence individual differences."
"Behavioural genetics was founded as a scientific discipline by Francis Galton in the late 19th century."
"...only to be discredited through association with eugenics movements before and during World War II."
"In the latter half of the 20th century, the field saw renewed prominence with research on inheritance of behaviour and mental illness in humans..."
"The late 20th and early 21st centuries, technological advances in molecular genetics made it possible to measure and modify the genome directly."
"...advances in model organism research (e.g., knockout mice) and in human studies (e.g., genome-wide association studies)..."
"Findings from behavioural genetic research have broadly impacted modern understanding of the role of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour."
"Evidence that nearly all researched behaviours are under a significant degree of genetic influence..."
"...influence tends to increase as individuals develop into adulthood."
"Most researched human behaviours are influenced by a very large number of genes and the individual effects of these genes are very small."
"Environmental influences also play a strong role..."
"...they tend to make family members more different from one another, not more similar."
"...uses genetic methods to investigate the nature and origins of individual differences in behaviour."
"...typically using twin and family studies..."
"...technological advances in molecular genetics made it possible to measure and modify the genome directly."
"The field broadly investigates the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence individual differences."
"Behavioural genetics was discredited through association with eugenics movements before and during World War II."
"...leading to new scientific discoveries."
"...they tend to make family members more different from one another, not more similar."