Nature vs. Nurture: What determines who we are?

January 10, 2014

Agenda

Nature vs. Nurture: The Debate

Twin Study

Article examination

Exit Slip

Nature vs. Nurture

Is our development determined by genetics or our environment?

How much influence do parents really have on children?

NatureThe information coded in your DNA determines the way you look, the way you act, personality

DNA is most important in determining who you are

NurtureThe environment that you were raised in determines how you act, your personality, and how you look (a little bit)

Parents and home environment important in determining who you are

TwinsIdentical - same egg and sperm, genes the same

Fraternal - two eggs, two sperm, different genes

Your Job1. Choose one of the articles about twins.

2. Independently read through and complete the corresponding Analyzing Twin Studies sheet.

3. Complete the What Do You Think sheet for credit

4. If you have extra time, analyze an additional article for extra credit.

Important vocabularyMonozygotic twins - developed from same egg and sperm, identical, same DNA

Dizygotic twins - developed from two eggs and two sperm, fraternal, different DNA

Gene - sequence of DNA that controls traits, can be passed down from parents to child

Genetics - study of genes and inheritance

Personality - how a person acts