adoption study: a behavior genetic research method that involves the comparison of adopted children to their adoptive and biological parents
allele: a specific version of a gene
amniotic sac: a fluid-filled sac that protects and contains the fetus in the uterus
behavioral genetics: the empirical science of how genes and environments combine to generate behavior
cesarean section: is the use of surgery to deliver babies through the mother’s abdomen and uterus
chromosome: a DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): a helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs
dizygotic: derived from two separate ova
embryo: a multi-celled organism between two and eight weeks after fertilization
epigenetics: the study of heritable phenotype changes that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence; the prefix epi- means above
evolutionary psychology: a field of psychology that focuses on how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time
fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a group of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy
fetus: an unborn human baby from nine weeks after conception until birth
gamete: a male or female reproductive cell
genes: sequences of DNA that control or partially control a number of characteristics
genotype: the genetic makeup of an individual
heterozygous: a combination of alleles for a given gene
homozygous: having two copies of the same allele for a given gene
mitosis: the process of cell division
monozygotic: derived from a single ovum
mutation: a sudden permanent change in a gene
phenotype: the individual’s inherited physical characteristics
placenta: an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to the prenate via the umbilical cord
pregnancy-related death: the death of a woman while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of a pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy
prenatal diagnosis: an aspect of prenatal care focused on pursuing additional detailed information once a particular problem has been found
prenatal screening: an aspect of prenatal care focused on finding problems among a large population with affordable and noninvasive methods
quantitative genetics: scientific and mathematical methods for inferring genetic and environmental processes based on the degree of genetic and environmental similarity among organisms
teratogen: any agent which can cause a birth defect
theory of evolution by natural selection: the process by which organisms change over time so that those with genes and behaviors better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce, while those that are poorly suited for their environment will die off
twin studies: a behavior genetic research method that involves a comparison of the similarity of identical (monozygotic; MZ) and fraternal (dizygotic; DZ) twins
zygote: a one-cell structure that is created when a sperm and egg merge
