Chapter

← Back to document page

quantitative genetics:measuring heritabilityChapter4Genetics and human behaviour: the ethical context39CHAPTER 4QUANTITATIVE GENETICS: MEASURING HERITABILITYQuantitative genetics: The field of quantitative genetics originated around 1920, following statisticaldemonstrations that traits which are normally distributed can arise from the action ofmultiple genes, each with relatively small effects (either increasing or decreasing the valueof the trait).1Various complex statistical techniques are employed in such research. In thischapter, we explain the concept of heritability, but do not provide a detailed account of thestatistical then go on to describe the three ways in which data about humanbehaviour are obtained in this field of research, namely twin, adoption and family studies.

Introduction 4.1 The field of quantitative genetics originated around 1920, following statistical demonstrations that traits which are normally distributed can arise from the action of multiple genes, each with relatively small effects (either increasing or decreasing the value of the trait).1 Various complex statistical techniques are employed in such research. In this chapter…

  Introduction, Chapter, Quantitative, Genetic, Quantitative genetics