Learning Objectives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR SECTION I

Explain why deciding whether or not to have children is more complicated today than it was in preindustrial times.
Describe what happens during ovulation and fertilization.
Explain the difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins and cite factors affecting the incidence of each.
Give at least three common causes of infertility in men and in women, and mention three common treatments.
Describe four methods of assisted reproduction and point out some of the ethical questions involved.
Define cloning and discuss some ethical considerations involved.

Tell what genes do and explain the significance of their location on the chromosomes.
Distinguish between meiosis and mitosis and between monomorphic and polymorphic genes.
Explain how the sex of a child is determined, and how and when an embryo develops male or female characteristics.
Contrast dominant and recessive inheritance and explain how each occurs.
Tell why most normal traits are not the result of simple dominant or recessive transmission?
Explain how a person can be either homozygous or heterozygous for an expressed trait.
Explain the difference between a person's phenotype and that person's genotype, and give an example.
Describe three methods of inheritance of defects, and give at least one example of each.
Explain why defects transmitted by dominant inheritance tend to be less deadly early in life than those transmitted recessively.
Name two ways in which chromosomal abnormalities can occur.
Identify the causes and characteristics of Down syndrome and discuss the outlook for a child born with this disorder.
Tell how genome imprinting occurs and give an example of its effect.
Tell how a genetic counselor assesses the probability that a child will be born with an inherited defect.
Discuss the benefits and risks of genetic testing.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR SECTION III

Tell how researchers determine the heritability of a trait.
Describe three common types of studies of the influences of hereditary and environmental factors in development.
Explain the concepts of reaction range and canalization, and give at least one example of each.
Give an example of genotype-environment interaction.
Define and give examples of three types of genotype-environment correlation.
Explain why siblings tend to be more different than alike in intellect and personality, and why each experiences a unique environment within the family.
Assess the influences of heredity and environment on obesity, longevity, intelligence, personality traits, temperament, shyness and boldness.
Identify the characteristics and probable causes of schizophrenia and autism.