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heredity
heredity
heredity The passing down by genetic transmission of the characteristics of plants or animals from one generation to the next (‘like begetting like’). The idea of biologically transmitted similarities is an old one. However, ideas as to the means of this transmission and its malleability by environmental influences have changed. Present-day ideas are grounded in research on genetics (a term first coined in 1905 for the science of heredity) that has its origins in Mendel's classic studies cross-breeding peas. This and other research provided the missing link in Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection by specifying the mechanism through which species variation and similarity could occur.
The impact of such ideas on the study of human behaviour was considerable. Francis Galton, a cousin of Darwin, explored the role of heredity in accounting for individual differences in
personality and
intelligence. He also introduced the term
eugenics for the body of knowledge that could be used to direct human evolution–an interventionist strategy that has remained highly controversial. Subsequent academic debate, juxtaposing heredity and
environment in an exhaustive specification of causal factors, has continued the attempt to assess the relative contributions of genetics and environment in the causation of human characteristics and behaviour, with individual differences receiving much of the research attention. Twin studies, comparing monozygotic or MZ (identical) twins with dizygotic or DZ (non-identical) twins have been widely employed, although the methodological difficulties are considerable. However, whilst the attempt to quantify the genetic or environmental contribution to differences between individuals continues, there is increasing recognition that both genetics and environment are essential to all human behaviour. See also
GENE;
NATURE VERSUS NURTURE DEBATE;
SOCIOBIOLOGY.
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Dickens and Heredity: When Like Begets Like.(Review)
Magazine article from: The Modern Language Review; 4/1/2001; ; 700+ words
; Dickens and Heredity: When Like Begets Like. By GOLDIE MORGENTALER. Basingstoke...Dickens's understanding of and personal response to notions of heredity. Heredity, whether brought to the fore by its absence or central to the...
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The heredity of Al-Si-Mg-Mn before and after remelting
Magazine article from: JOM; 11/1/1997; ; 700+ words
; This article reviews the heredity of metals and alloys that occurs in the casting...casting process; the phenomena are known as the heredity of metals and alloys. This structural and defect heredity must be acknowledged and accounted for throughout...
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Common beliefs about the heredity of human characteristics.
Magazine article from: British Journal of Psychology; 11/1/1993; ; 700+ words
; ...which intelligence is attributed to heredity ranges from less than 40 per cent...so much on common beliefs about the heredity of specific character traits, but on the general belief as regards heredity. The study is based on the assumption...
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Research on heredity detailed by S.L. Krauss and co-authors.
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 3/27/2009; 700+ words
; ...recent research published in the journal Heredity, "In plants, pollen-and seed-dispersal...L. Krauss and colleagues (see also Heredity). The researchers concluded: "As...and colleagues published their study in Heredity (Contrasting impacts of pollen and seed...
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Research on heredity reported by J. Juste et al.
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 8/21/2009; 700+ words
; ...in Seville, Spain report (see also Heredity). "The role of the Straits of Gibraltar...colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Heredity ( 2009) 103, 178-187; doi: 10...and colleagues published their study in Heredity (Mitochondrial DNA signatures at different...
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Researchers at University of Szeged target heredity.(Report)
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 12/19/2008; 640 words
; ...to recent research published in the journal Heredity, "In this study, we examine the frequency...colleagues, University of Szeged (see also Heredity). The researchers concluded: "Heredity (2008) 101, 416-419; doi: 10.1038...
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Research on heredity detailed by M. Paris and co-authors.
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 1/9/2009; 700+ words
; ...wrote M. Paris and colleagues (see also Heredity). The researchers concluded: "Heredity (2008) 101, 499-506; doi: 10.1038...Paris and colleagues published their study in Heredity (The effects of the genetic background on...
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Findings in heredity reported from M.I.B. Efombagn and co-researchers.
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 7/24/2009; 700+ words
; ...Yaounde, Cameroon report (see also Heredity). "Another 46.3% of the farm accessions...colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Heredity (2009) 103, 46-53; doi: 10.1038...and colleagues published their study in Heredity (Parentage analysis and outcrossing...
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New heredity study findings recently were published by A.G.F. Teacher and co-researchers.(Report)
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 6/19/2009; 700+ words
; ...the United Kingdom report (see also Heredity). "We examined the phylogeographic...colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Heredity (2009) 102, 490-496; doi: 10...and colleagues published their study in Heredity (European phylogeography of the common...
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Findings in heredity reported from N. Ohnishi and co-researchers.(Report)
Newspaper article from: Genomics & Genetics Weekly; 6/26/2009; 700+ words
; ...wrote N. Ohnishi and colleagues (see also Heredity). The researchers concluded: "Heredity (2009) 102, 579-589; doi:10.1038...Ohnishi and colleagues published their study in Heredity (The influence of climatic oscillations during...
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heredity
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to the Body
heredity In popular parlance, the word ‘heredity’ is used to explain the observation that every...of genetics is responsible for the scientific study of heredity and its mechanisms, and the main focus of genetic research...
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Heredity
Encyclopedia entry from: International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
Heredity From a historical and biological perspective, heredity is the transfer of traits from a parent organism to its offspring. Traditional conceptualizations of heredity have focused on genes and the expression of genetic...
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Heredity of Acquired Characters
Dictionary entry from: International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis
HEREDITY OF ACQUIRED CHARACTERS The expression "heredity of acquired characters" generally refers to the transmission...the status hystericus is to be entirely looked for in the heredity" (1888b). However, he made a clear distinction over...
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"Heredity and the Aetiology of the Neuroses"
Dictionary entry from: International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis
"HEREDITY AND THE AETIOLOGY OF THE NEUROSES" Sigmund...Martin Charcot's teaching on the role of heredity in the etiology of the neuroses. The...us by our teacher" (1896a, 143). Heredity is only a "condition," to borrow the...
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chromosome theory of heredity
Book article from: A Dictionary of Zoology
chromosome theory of heredity The unifying theory put forward by W. S. Sutton in 1902 that Mendel's laws of inheritance may be explained by assuming that genes are located in specific sites on chromosomes .
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