Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
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...
Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

mZVI-Enhanced Mixed Nitrogen Removal in Klebsiella oxytoca via Coordinated Electron Transfer and Metabolic Reprogramming.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026
Same author

Psychotic-like experiences and non-suicidal self-injury in the community population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health·2026
Same author

Genome-Wide Association Study of Plant and Ear Height in Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) and Identification of Candidate Genes.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Natural pyrite-enhanced co-culture system for simultaneous nitrate and ammonium removal under low C/N conditions: Mechanistic insights and real wastewater application.

Bioresource technology·2026
Same author

Intermetallic reaction and eutectic transitions tune the reactivity in core-shell Mg/Ni nanoparticles.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026
Same author

The Propensity for Aggressive Behavior and Lifetime Incarceration Risk: A Test for Gene-environment Interaction (G×E) Using Whole-genome Data.

Aggression and violent behavior·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies
07:43

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

Gene-environment correlation: difficulties and a natural experiment-based strategy.

Brandon Wagner1, Jiang Li, Hexuan Liu

  • 1At the time of the study, Brandon Wagner, Hexuan Liu, and Guang Guo were with the Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Guang Guo is also with the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Jiang Li is with Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

American Journal of Public Health
|August 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Natural experiments, such as random roommate assignment, can mitigate bias from gene-environment correlations. Combining these with observational data yields unbiased and generalizable causal effects for behavior research.

More Related Videos

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
08:09

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: January 7, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies
07:43

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
08:09

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: January 7, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral genetics
  • Social epidemiology
  • Quantitative psychology

Background:

  • Gene-environment correlations (rGE) can bias observational studies of behavior.
  • Natural experiments offer a potential solution to rGE by using random assignment.
  • Generalizability of findings from natural experiments to broader populations requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how gene-environment correlations create endogenous models.
  • To assess the protective role of natural experiments against rGE bias.
  • To determine the generalizability of unbiased estimates from natural experiments.

Main Methods:

  • Compared a natural experiment (College Roommate Study) with observational data (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health).
  • Used genetic markers to predict peer exercise exposure.
  • Employed mixed-linear models to estimate variance in alcohol consumption attributable to genetic markers and peer environments.

Main Results:

  • Peer exercise environment associated with genotype in observational data, but not in the natural experiment.
  • Effects of peer drinking and gene-environment interaction were consistent across both datasets.
  • Random assignment in the natural experiment mitigated genotype-environment association.

Conclusions:

  • Natural experiments, exemplified by random roommate assignment, can effectively shield against bias from gene-environment correlations.
  • Integrating natural experiments with representative observational data enables estimation of unbiased and generalizable causal effects.
  • This approach enhances the validity of behavioral research findings.