Epigenetics Discussion

in each question and answer please reference content from text included along with any material provided in question. I will send remainder of reading pages once question is assigned

1. The nature vs. nurture debate has been alive for decades.  We now understand that it is neither nurture, nor nature, but nurture with nature.  The two are intimately connected, so much so that we now know that nurture, our environment and experiences, not only affect us, but can actually modify our genes.   This exciting area of study is called epigenetics.  Epigenetics offers a fascinating view into the world of DNA, which was once thought to be inherited and unchangeable.  We now know differently.  How might our understanding of epigenetics change our view of personality?  Consider all that you have learned about personality development.

The film is the Secret Life of Twins.  You can begin viewing this film at segment #16 through its conclusion.

2. Genes & genius

Artificial insemination and sperm banks offer hope to many individuals who long for children, yet can’t conceive.  The  ability to choose from a preferred set of characteristics encompasses a multitude of moral and ethical concerns.  the following video shows children whose mothers chose their sperm donors based upon specific criteria that was important to them.  One donor was interviewed, explained his belief that he fathered numerous children through the sperm bank because he believed that he was an excellent example of representing the  genes that represented Darwin’s survival of the fitness and natural selection.  He believed this because he  was of remarkable intelligence and career success, yet to me, he appeared to be rather narcissistic and lacking in empathy for emotional relatedness to any of the children he fathered.  I found myself wondering, do we really want a world of genius IQ, if the price we pay is a generation of extreme narcissists, who are self focused and display little empathy for their fellow man, even their offspring?

On another note, there of course is no guarantee that the child will inherit these genes anyway, as only half of the genetic contribution comes from the sperm donor, and of course, the other half comes from the mother.  What if the child displays none of the characteristics upon which the mother made her selection?  What is to be said of the mother who chooses a donor based upon specific characteristics that are important to her, at the expense of other qualities that she may not even consider?  The questions and avenues of thought seem to be endless.

How does one decide which characteristic is the most important?  What is the price we pay for these choices?  Develop your thoughts in at least 3 very well defined paragraphs.  Discuss your thoughts as it related to the mother, the donor, and the child.   

3. Chapter 9 love & jealousy

Buss is an evolutionary psychology who studied mate selection, love, and jealousy.  He suggests that love and jealousy are  evolutionarily adaptive strategies designed to maintain long term relationships,  and help ensure our survival as a species.   View the following video.

https://www.pbs.org/video/this-emotional-life-the-roots-of-love/ (Links to an external site.)

1.  How are love and jealousy important emotions from an evolutionary psychology perspective? Do you agree?

For full credit, be very  thorough in  developing your answer, using the information you learned in this chapter and from this video.