[Heritability and environment in normal and abnormal development].
The environmental influence on human development can be studied by assessing similarities and discrepancies in developmental traits between biological and adopted siblings and twins, reared together and reared apart. Approximately 50% of total variance of general cognitive ability in a given population can be explained by the environment. This influence gradually decreases with age, from infancy to adulthood. Two types of environments can be distinguished: shared and non shared. The former one, acts predominantly in childhood, and the non shared environment becomes more important in adulthood. Paradoxically, quantitative genetics can make a significant contribution to knowledge on the influence of environment on human development.
Servicio de Crecimiento y Desarrollo, Hospital Nacional de Pediatría Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan. hlejarraga@garrahan.gov.ar
Horacio
H
Lejarraga
D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans