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Genetic Influences

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For centuries, we have known that our genetic makeup makes us who we are today. We see it in our everyday lives when we have encounters with friends and peers as well as notice some similarities that we have with our own parents, siblings, or other family members. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary online (n.d.), a gene is “a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is located usually on a chromosome and that is the functional unit of inheritance controlling the transmission and expression of one or more traits.” Obviously, both genes and the environment contributes to the way we think, feel, and act and there is no question that both are needed in shaping every individual. However, scientists have been studying the effect …show more content…

There are numerous genetic disorders that our society can suffer from but usually are very rare and affect only one out of thousands or millions. When we think of genetic disorders, the term genetic allows to think about genes – a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring – therefore, making us believe that because a certain disorder or condition is considered genetic, it must mean that we are destined to be diagnosed with it just because our parents have it. Actually, genetic disorders may or may not be passed down from a parent’s genes. These disorders are called non-heritable genetic disorders that are caused by new mutations or changes in the DNA. Some examples of non-heritable genetic disorders are; Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Williams …show more content…

There is no one gene singled out to be the cause of ADHD but specific gene studies have linked certain genes, like dopamine D4 and dopamine D5, to be affiliated in the cause of this disorder. Having a family member with ADHD makes you more likely to also have the disorder. Children who have ADHD typically have a parent, sibling, or other close relative with ADHD. According to the National Institutes of Health, one third of fathers who have or had ADHD will have children who will be diagnosed with

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Inheritance by Dr. Sharon Moalem is an exceptional book. Dr. Moalem’s goal for writing this book is to convey a new idea of genetics and inheritance to the reader. In middle school and high school we were taught that our genetics comes from our parents and that they are fixed throughout our lifetime, but Dr. Sharon Moalem brings the idea that the environment may alter them. He states that the food we eat and the trauma we endure during life can imprint onto our genes. Dr. Moalem works with rare genetic disorders where he accumulates his knowledge from research to help treat his patients with changing some environmental factors in their lives.

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The majority of what makes up an organism is its genetic variation, but it is impossible to not suffer from changes due to the environment, some of these changes may be unnoticeable, but some can determine life and death. This is caused by something known as epigenetics, which is the modification of gene expression, rather than the sequence of genes themselves. A few of the disease found in humans that are dependent on the environment of the human are type two diabetes, alcoholism, some forms of cancer, schizophrenia, heart disease, along with many others. A person's personality is also determined by the society around them. It is only natural for the human mind to accept the folkways, mores, and taboos of the people around them and thus strengthen these norms.

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From the moment a person is born to the moment they die, they are constantly changing with the effects of their surroundings and their decisions. People are also influenced by their genetics, which determine hair color and other traits. These all contribute to the development of people and who they become as a whole, including their personality, values, and morals. People are influenced by many factors in life and psychology studies the human mind and its behavior throughout time. Literature and history often conveys the difference between nature and nurture in the development of people.

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Dr. Rettew connects to class discussions and readings on shared and unshared environmental influences, evocative gene environment correlation, temperament, and the goodness-of-fit. Twins that with unshared environmental influences, such as different placentas, could adapt different temperaments (Berk, 2009). Also, twins that have been adopted into separate families could have different personality traits because they lived in completely different environments their whole life, even if they shared environmental influences of the same placenta (Berk, 2009). With an evocative gene environment correlation, a child’s genotype could draw in a certain type of environment, such as babies who appear more attractive will receive more attention (Berk, 2009). The type of attention a child gets could affect its temperament.

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As a unique individual, certain activities are done to fit your needs. According to the parenting style, parents would have an impact on the children 's life. There is a gene- environment interraction. Once the child is born, they would see and mimic their surroundings. This would influence what they would become as an adult.

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1. Similar to other diseases like, say, cancer, having family members who have it can increase your chance of getting it, though specific genes have been difficult to truly pin. 2. For those with Down syndrome, a gene contained in the extra chromosome increase the risk. 3.

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Upon the creation of humans, part of our behavior has been genetic and others have been culturally shaped. These genetics help us relate to our ancestors the primates because it shows that we’re still evolving. Even though we have gone from Homo habilis to Homo sapiens sapiens, the heritage from chimpanzees and other primates is still visible. On the other hand, humans, like primates learn certain things according to the environment they may live on and how it affects them. The things someone picks up from observing or experimenting then turns to culturally shaped.

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The views of heredity and exactly what it was have changed throughout time. Herbert Spencer stated that heredity was just another facet of evolution and was the basis for how mankind was bettered over time (Niemeyer, 2015). August Weismann, on the other hand, felt that heredity was traits passed down through generations that made mankind most equipped to handle changes and challenges (Neimeyer, 2015). Studies would eventually like heredity over time, minds would change and heredity would be linked to that of the chromosomes and genes that each individual carries and that were passed down from generations prior. The original assumptions as to just what made us who we are were established without any scientific backing.

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I believe that my ADHD creates challenges in my job such as getting off track, not always finishing everything assigned to me, and the tendency to talk with my coworkers instead of doing my job. Despite the challenges I face in the work environment, I have to give myself reminders on what I am supposed to be doing and try to make more of an effort to get my job done. In addition to the obstacles I face in the work environment, ADHD provides additional obstacles in the relationships that I have with my family and friends. I do not share the fact that I have ADHD with my friends and that I need to take medicine just to feel and operate normal, so I occasionally feel alone or bad about my schoolwork knowing that I have to work harder for the grades I receive. Similarly, issues arise within my family because my parents have the tendency to get upset when I forget to finish my chores, or my desk is a mess and unorganized.

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The next topic we learned about was genetic disease. A genetic disease is a sickness that is inherited by offspring. An example of that is diabetes or different cancers. The last topic we learned about was genetically modifying babies, which are usually called designer babies. A designer baby is where the parents of the baby get to choose the characteristics and traits of their infant while their child is still an embryo.

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Therefore, if two parents are carriers of a certain gene that will disable their child, they can modify that gene to make a child that will not have that disability. As well as some parents will have designer babies to save another child they already have with a certain disease. In this method, parents will choose their child’s blood type and such in order for them to match that other diseased child and potentially give them their blood, marrow, and even organs. Genetically modifying a child’s chance of disease ensures that a child may live a life without potential disease and disability that they may have been more prone to had their parents’ not used this method. This also ensures a healthy life for a child that had a greater potential of having a medical condition due to their parents being carriers of that particular gene.

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As I mentioned above, most of my relationships end with I felt unfairly treated and emotionally reacted to my girlfriends. Most likely it is the consequence of both Genetic Determinism, and Psychic Determinism. Everyone in my family has a short temper, and my mother is very sensitive. After I grow up from this environment, my first reaction, without thinking, to my girlfriend said I did not love her would be retort and often goes to a fight. I knew it was wrong, but I just loss of control when it happens.

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Epigenetics is the study of how some circumstances in life can cause genes to be either turned on or turned off. Circumstances like where one lives, teratogens (environmental toxins) (Siegler et al., 2014), or what one eats can potentially cause modifications to the genes that either turn on or off specific genes over a period of time. In other words, people often think their “fixed” a birth, however experiences play a vital role in gene expression. Epigenetics can affect development because depending on one’s life experiences it can change the course for better or worse.

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Most people avoid thinking of the idea of having one of their future children born with a genetic disorder. But this is not a realistic thought. A study made by the National Down Syndrome Society (2014) found out that about one in every seven hundred babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder caused by an error during the cell division. This results in an extra copy of the chromosome 21 which alters the brain and body development. People with Down syndrome are born with intellectual disability, some characteristic facial features and cognitive delays.

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The nature versus nurture argument is one of the oldest debates amongst psychologists. The debate concerns whether certain aspects of your personality are inherited or if you learn them from your surroundings. It has long been acknowledged that our hair, skin colour and certain diseases are governed by our genes. Other physical attributes if not determined, seem to be strongly linked to the genetic makeup of our parents. Height, weight and life expectancy are all correlated between related individuals.

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