Exam 18: Genetics of Behavior

The mutant huntingtin protein is _____________________,meaning that it kills cells,such as those in the brain and nervous system.

Research using transgenic animal models of neurodegenerative diseases not only helps scientists understand the disorders,but also may lead to _____.

Individuals with nicotine acetylcholine receptors that bind tightly to nicotine are more likely to _____.

A study revealed differences in DNA methylation patterns between monozygotic twins,only one of whom was affected by a schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This suggests a role for ____ in mental illness.

Discuss the difficulties in studying the genetics of human behavior traits

Explain how genetic mutations that cause neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease can also cause abnormal behavior.

Because sons adopted by alcoholic men show a rate of alcoholism more like that of their biological father,there is an argument for the role of genetic factors in this disease.

The _____________________ movement overemphasized the role of genetics in human behavior,leading to the forced sterilization of those who were considered genetically inferior based on personality traits.

What is the function of a normal MAOA protein?

All psychiatric illnesses studied to date have been shown to result from a mutation in a single gene.

To summarize the conclusions of modern human behavioral genetics research,behavior is influenced by _____________________,_____________________,and _____________________ factors.

Suppose Stephen Mobley,who was convicted and executed for the murder of John Collins,carried the variant of the MAOA gene that has been associated with violent behavior. If you were on the jury that convicted and sentenced Mobley,would this information have influenced your view of his guilt or innocence?  Would it have changed your opinion of his sentence?  Why or why not?

Figure -Identify the numbered items in the accompanying figure.Include the following terms in your description. presynaptic neuron postsynaptic neuron neurotransmitters waiting to be released neurotransmitters released by the nerve impulse synapse receptors with bound neurotransmitters

Huntington disease is _____.

Someone who steps on a sharp nail will quickly lift their foot away. This quick reaction is known as a(n)_____________________.

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are caused by _____.

Would you recommend genetic testing for the APOE*4 allele in family members of an Alzheimer disease patient?  Why or why not?

Drugs,such as cocaine and nicotine,mimic the action of neurotransmitters.

Females who are heterozygous for a violence-associated mutation in the X-linked MAOA gene will display abnormal behavior.

The normal _____________________ protein binds to hundreds of other proteins to facilitate synaptic function,cell signaling,intracellular transport,and transcription.