Development across the Life Span
What Are Some Of The Special Research Methods Used To Study Development?
The three special methods used in developmental research are the longitudinal
design, the cross-sectional design, and the cross-sequential design.
Longitudinal design: one group of people is followed and assessed at different
times as the group ages.
Cross-sectional design: several age groups are studied at one time.
cross-sequential design: a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional design
What Is The Relationship Between Hereditary And Environmental Factors In
Determining Development?
Nature versus Nurture
Nature is the influence of hereditary on personality, physical growth and social
interactions.
Nurture is the influence of the environment on all those things including parenting
styles, socioeconomic factors, physical surroundings and anything else that may
influence how one develops.
The issue of nature (hereditary) versus nurture (environment) influences the
focus of behavioural genetics.
How Do Chromosomes And Genes Determine The Inheritance Of Disorders, And
What Causes Multiple Births?
Genetic and Chromosome Problems
The basic building blocks of life are DNA molecules that contain instructions for
all the organism’s traits, or genes.
Dominant genes control the expression of a trait.
Recessive gene traits are only expressed when paired with another recessive
gene for the same trait.
, Almost all traits are the result of combinations of genes working together in a
process called polygenic inheritance.
Chromosome disorders include Down syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome in boys,
and Turners syndrome in girls, while genetic disorders include PKU, cystic
fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia, and Tay-Sachs disease.
Prenatal Development
A fertilised egg is called a zygote and divides into many cells, eventually forming
a baby.
Monozygotic twins (identical) are formed when the zygote splits into two separate
masses of cells, each of which will develop into a baby identical to the other.
When two monozygotic masses do not fully separate, conjoined twins occur.
Dizygotic twins are formed when the mother’s body releases multiple eggs and at
least two are fertilised, or when another ovulation occurs even through the
mother has already become pregnant.
What Happens During The Germinal, Embryonic, And Foetal Periods Of
Pregnancy And What Are Some Hazards In Prenatal Development?
The germinal period is the first two weeks of pregnancy, during which the dividing
mass of cells (blastocyst) moves down the fallopian tube and into the uterus.
The placenta begins to form, as do specialised cells preparing to form organs, as
well as stem cells.
The embryonic period begins at two weeks after conception and end at eight
weeks. The vital organs and structures of the baby form during this period.
This period has the clearest critical periods in which environmental factors can
influence or harm development of an infant.
The foetal period is from the beginning of the ninth week until the birth of the
baby. Tremendous growth occurs, length and weight increase, and organs
continue to become fully functional.
What Are Some Of The Special Research Methods Used To Study Development?
The three special methods used in developmental research are the longitudinal
design, the cross-sectional design, and the cross-sequential design.
Longitudinal design: one group of people is followed and assessed at different
times as the group ages.
Cross-sectional design: several age groups are studied at one time.
cross-sequential design: a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional design
What Is The Relationship Between Hereditary And Environmental Factors In
Determining Development?
Nature versus Nurture
Nature is the influence of hereditary on personality, physical growth and social
interactions.
Nurture is the influence of the environment on all those things including parenting
styles, socioeconomic factors, physical surroundings and anything else that may
influence how one develops.
The issue of nature (hereditary) versus nurture (environment) influences the
focus of behavioural genetics.
How Do Chromosomes And Genes Determine The Inheritance Of Disorders, And
What Causes Multiple Births?
Genetic and Chromosome Problems
The basic building blocks of life are DNA molecules that contain instructions for
all the organism’s traits, or genes.
Dominant genes control the expression of a trait.
Recessive gene traits are only expressed when paired with another recessive
gene for the same trait.
, Almost all traits are the result of combinations of genes working together in a
process called polygenic inheritance.
Chromosome disorders include Down syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome in boys,
and Turners syndrome in girls, while genetic disorders include PKU, cystic
fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia, and Tay-Sachs disease.
Prenatal Development
A fertilised egg is called a zygote and divides into many cells, eventually forming
a baby.
Monozygotic twins (identical) are formed when the zygote splits into two separate
masses of cells, each of which will develop into a baby identical to the other.
When two monozygotic masses do not fully separate, conjoined twins occur.
Dizygotic twins are formed when the mother’s body releases multiple eggs and at
least two are fertilised, or when another ovulation occurs even through the
mother has already become pregnant.
What Happens During The Germinal, Embryonic, And Foetal Periods Of
Pregnancy And What Are Some Hazards In Prenatal Development?
The germinal period is the first two weeks of pregnancy, during which the dividing
mass of cells (blastocyst) moves down the fallopian tube and into the uterus.
The placenta begins to form, as do specialised cells preparing to form organs, as
well as stem cells.
The embryonic period begins at two weeks after conception and end at eight
weeks. The vital organs and structures of the baby form during this period.
This period has the clearest critical periods in which environmental factors can
influence or harm development of an infant.
The foetal period is from the beginning of the ninth week until the birth of the
baby. Tremendous growth occurs, length and weight increase, and organs
continue to become fully functional.
