Introduction
The study of hereditary influences on behavior is known as behavioral genetics. Behavioral genetics is considered an intersection between the fields of behavioral sciences and genetics. Like most other research areas, it is challenging to find out when behavioral genetics began. In fact, it is said that the idea that behavioral qualities may be passed down via families may have first entered human consciousness around 8000 BC (before Christ). Charles Darwin started the era of genetics in his 1859 publication The Origin of Species through natural selection or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Furthermore, he gave the idea that mental abilities (and insanity) are inherited much thought. Few more scientists draw attention to the linkage between the behavior of the human and genetics. In this article, we will talk about behavioral genetics.
What Is Behavioral Genetics?
Behavioral genetics is one of several fields with the potential to contribute to a sophisticated and mature science of evolutionary psychology. Behavioral genetics focuses on the genetic and environmental co-determinants of an organism's behavior and, more generally, on such influences on individual differences in behavior. An inheritable unit of heredity is the gene that is transferred to children from their parents.
Francis Galton published a book Hereditary Genius in which he tried to show, using biographies of famous men, that mental capacity was indeed hereditary. Interestingly, to investigate the influence of the environment, Galton introduced the technique of studying twins. His conclusion of these studies was that twins that were alike at birth did not get dissimilar by a different environment. Likewise, twins that were different at birth did not become more similar by a similar environment, thus strongly emphasizing the hereditary influence.
Although Darwin and Galton pointed to the important role of heredity, neither had a clear knowledge of the mechanisms behind this. It was the Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel who, through his research on peas in the garden of the monastery, provided the answers. Mendel summarised his many experiments in two laws.
- The Law Of Segregation - The law states that each aspect of an individual has two elements of heredity, one from the mother and one from the father.
- The Law Of Independent Assortment - The law states that the elements of inheritance of two traits (characteristics) assort independently.
What Are the Laws of Behavior Genetics?
Behavior genetics is now used in a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, political science, economics, and business. All such studies derive from the so-called 'first law' of behavior genetics, according to which all human behavioral traits are heritable. Heritability means that the characteristics are carried to children by parents. The causes of the trait are not inherited. For example, a lifetime income is 50 % heritable is not intended to mean that 50 % of a person's income is due to the genes and 50 % to their environment. Heritability estimates only apply to populations, not to individuals. Heritability must not be confused with genetic inheritance. Heritability should not be misinterpreted as showing that genetic similarities cause trait similarities in the study population.
What Are the Methods in Behavioral Genetics?
Most heritability estimates in behavior genetics are derived using the classical twin study methodology, predicated on the idea that fraternal or dizygotic twins, derived from two separate eggs and sperm, are typically 50 % genetically identical to non-twin siblings. Monozygotic twins refer to the pair of twins derived from one sperm or egg, whereas dizygotic twins refer to the pair of twins derived from two separate eggs and sperm. Identical or monozygotic twins have identical inherited deoxyribonucleosides (DNA). The identical twin pairs display a certain behavior in a study population made up of monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins. This could be a significant flaw in heritability estimates that the greater similarities of monozygotic twins are equal to their greater genetic similarity, possibly due to greater environmental similarity.
What Are the Limitations of Behavioral Genetics?
Every behavior is not genetically determined. This may seem very obvious. But it is an important pitfall in this age of molecular genetics. For example, a recent large national twin study of sexual orientation failed to find any evidence for genetic influence on female homosexuality (sexual attraction towards the same gender). Additionally, there are genotype-environment interactions, which generally indicate that different genotypes’ behaviors are influenced differently by the environment.
However, it is challenging to demonstrate this relationship in people. Behavioral genetics research in animals has produced ample evidence. For example, different genotypes of the rats are capable of reversing the predisposition for periodontitis (a destructive inflammatory disease in the tooth-supporting tissues). The drawback of behavioral genetics is due to insufficient information or evidence in the field of genetics.
What Is the Future of Behavioral Genetics?
The field of behavioral genetics has expanded quickly in recent years. This will undoubtedly continue in the following millennium. There are now two societies that concentrate on behavior genetics. First, there is the Behaviour Genetics Association (BGA), which was established in 1970 and is still active. Behavioral genetics has shed light on the underlying genetic architecture of complex behavioral traits, including intelligence, personality, and mental disorders.
Conclusion
The field of behavioral genetics offers valuable insights into the connection between genetic and environmental factors that shape human behavior. Behavioral genetics has applications in psychology, psychiatry, and personalized medicine. Although it is not clear that genes play an important role in shaping behavior, it is important to note that genes do not operate in isolation. Various factors contribute to behavioral outcomes, such as environmental factors, upbringing, social influences, and life experiences. The nature versus nature debate has given way to a more complex comprehension of how genes work and the environment interact, with both factors influencing and shaping each other.
However, it is crucial to remember that genetics is not fate and does not decide individual fate. Furthermore, the ethical implications of behavioral genetics research cannot be overlooked. The knowledge gained from these studies must be handled responsibly to avoid stigmatization, discrimination, or misuse of genetic information.
