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Related Concept Videos

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs01:23

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
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Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.
Genetic Variation01:25

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
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Non-nuclear Inheritance

Most DNA resides in the nucleus of a cell. However, some organelles in the cell cytoplasm⁠—such as chloroplasts and mitochondria⁠—also have their own DNA. These organelles replicate their DNA independently of the nuclear DNA of the cell in which they reside. Non-nuclear inheritance describes the inheritance of genes from structures other than the nucleus.

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Updated: May 9, 2026

Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses
07:59

Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses

Published on: September 19, 2011

Why offspring in nonhuman families differ.

Scott Forbes1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior
|July 19, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Offspring within families exhibit significant differences due to varied environments, even within the same nest. Maternal effects and social rank significantly shape these diverse developmental pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Offspring within families, both human and nonhuman, frequently display notable differences.
  • Research on human siblings primarily focuses on the nonshared environment, with its exact nature remaining debated.
  • Nonhuman families, particularly birds, offer valuable models for understanding within-brood diversity due to shared characteristics with human families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore explanations for within-brood diversity by examining nonhuman families, specifically birds.
  • To investigate the role of social rank in establishing a nonshared environment within families.
  • To assess the potential contribution of maternal effects to phenotypic diversity in human children's psychological traits.

Main Methods:

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  • Examined the role of social rank in creating distinct family environments for offspring.
  • Utilized data from an altricial bird model system to illustrate environmental differences experienced by broodmates.
  • Reviewed literature on genetic and non-genetic maternal effects in nonhuman families and their relevance to human studies.

Main Results:

  • Offspring within the same nest, even when physically proximate and experiencing similar external conditions, can inhabit vastly different effective environments.
  • Social rank significantly contributes to creating a nonshared environment within the family unit.
  • Within-brood genetic variations and maternal effects, often linked to hatching rank, are significant sources of offspring diversity.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal effects are pervasive and consequential in nonhuman families, influencing offspring development and diversity.
  • Evidence suggests maternal effects may play a crucial role in generating psychological diversity among children in human families.
  • Further research into maternal effects is warranted to understand their impact on human psychological trait diversity.