From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
Behavioural genetics (behavioral
genetics) is the field of
biology that studies the role
of
genetics in
animal
behaviour. The field is an
overlap of
genetics,
ethology and
psychology (particularly
evolutionary psychology).
Classically, behavioural
geneticists have studied the
heritability of behavioural
traits.
In 1869,
Francis Galton published the
first empirical work in
behavioural genetics,
Hereditary Genius. Here,
Galton intended to demonstrate
that "a man's natural abilities
are derived by inheritance, under
exactly the same limitations as
are the form and physical features
of the whole organic world." Like
most seminal work, he overstated
his conclusions. His was a family
study and resemblance among
familial relatives can be a
function of both shared genes and
shared environments. Contemporary
behavioural genetics studies
special populations—in human
research, twins and adoptees and
in animal research, specially bred
strains and lines—to separate
genetic from environmental
effects.
The initial impetus behind
behavioural genetic research was
to demonstrate that there were
indeed genetic influences on
behaviour. In psychology, this
phase lasted for the first half of
the 20th century largely because
of the overwhelming influence of
behaviourism in the field.
Later behavioural genetic research
focused on quantitative methods,
and today there is a large
emphasis on applying molecular
genetic techniques to isolate
individual genes that influence
behaviour. Currently, the largest
branch of behavioural genetics is
psychiatric genetics which studies
phenotypes such as schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder, and alcoholism.
References
- Carey, G. (2003) Human
Genetics for the Social Sciences.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
[1]
- DeFries, J. C., McGuffin,
P., McClearn, G. E., Plomin, R.
(2000) Behavioral Genetics
4th ed. W H Freeman & Co.
- Scott, J.P. and Fuller, J.L.
(1965) Genetics and the
Social Behavior of the Dog.
University of Chicago Press.
-
Weiner, J. (1999) Time,
Love, Memory : A Great Biologist
and His Quest for the Origins of
Behavior. Knopf
