Genetics, Child Growth and Development

854 Words2 Pages

Genetics and Development: Genetics is a scientific discipline that deals with how individuals inherit their physical and behavioral attributes. Generally, genetics is a branch of biology that deals with the science of heredity, genes, and differences in living organisms. It’s the process with which a child inherits traits from his/her parents and the molecular organization and function of genes. The question of what determines the development of a child has been an issue that has attracted considerable concerns and debates across educators, biologists, and psychologists. This issue has attracted huge concerns because it’s impossible to explain each and every factor that eventually determines who a child becomes. Notably, the development of a child involves a mix of various influences such as parenting, genetics, individual experiences, family relationships, friends, and school. One of the most important influences on a child’s development and growth is genetics, which primarily is the process of traits inheritance from parents to offspring. Child Development: Child growth and development is a process that consists of some building blocks, which are components that combine in an infinite number of ways (Cherry, n.d.). As a result of the variations of building blocks in a child’s development, educators, psychologists, and philosophers have been constantly engaged in the debate of nature versus nurture debate. Many researchers agree that child development is a complex interaction between his/her genetic background (nature) and his/her environment (nurture). In essence, some developmental aspects are strongly affected by biology whereas other aspects are influenced by environmental factors. From the onset of an individu... ... middle of paper ... ...omosomes or genetic/chromosomal disorders. The most common type of genetic or chromosomal disorder is Down Syndrome or trisomy 21 (Cherry, n.d.). The condition occurs when a child has three chromosomes at the site of the twenty-first chromosome rather than the normal two. Some of the most common signs of Down Syndrome include round face, thick tongue, slanted eyes, hearing problems, heart defects, and intellectual impairment. In conclusion, genetics play an important role in the development of a child in light of the transfer of genes from parents to offspring. Even though a child inherits several genes from the two parents, his/her ability to express these factors is dependent on gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Therefore, a child’s growth and development is not only influenced by hereditary factors but also determined by environmental influences.

Show More
Related

  • What's Eating Gilberts Grape Analysis

    125 Words  | 1 Pages

    “What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape” directed by Lasse Hallstrom delves into elucidating the various effects of third development concepts: how genetics are correlated to mental disabilities, how environmental influences can affect a person’s lifestyle, and the effects of developmental influences, such as puberty, on young adults and adolescents. Michael Rutter, in his article, “The Interplay of Nature, Nurture and Developmental Influences,” further emphasizes the interplays between nature, nurture and developmental influences to elaborate the multifactorial interconnections effects of influences on childhood development.

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nurture: Genetics vs Environment

    1611 Words  | 4 Pages

    The nature vs. nurture debate: the nature side, are those such as biologists, psychologists and others in the natural sciences, argue that behavioral traits can be explained by genetics. Those taking the nurture side are sociologists and others in the social sciences, they argue that human behavior is learned and shaped through social interaction. This argument should be dismissed because you don’t have to look far to see that both genetics and our environment, plays a role in who we are and our behaviors. (Glass). The point is there is a complex relationship between nature and nurture, either one alone is insufficient to explain what makes us human. (Colt). Our heredity gives us a basic potential,...

    Read More

  • The Genetic Model: Models Of Addiction

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetics has a great impact on the person one becomes starting with their early development. The Genetic Model will access the gene mutations that affect the individuals. Gene mutations such as, the altering of proteins which in return changes the functions of the brain (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Likewise, the individual may be more prone to develop a addiction due to this mutation. Also, genetics can affect the behaviors of an individual participating in the use of drugs. Once a parent participates in drugs and their desires it reflects onto the child’s behaviors and their desire with the use of drugs. These desires are stored in the limbic part of

    Read More

  • Our Secret

    1363 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every individual has a biological influence on their development; two individuals combine their genetic information to create a new organism, carrying biological predispositions that will shape their expressed behaviors and characteristics. However, Susan Griffin, author of the essay “Our Secret,” argues that while genetic influences are significant, they are not the sole contributors to an individual’s development. Throughout her essay, Griffin reveals to her readers that the presence of external, uncontrollable factors from an individual’s environment can be equally influential as they diverge the individual off of the predetermined path of life created by biological factors.

    Read More

  • Childhood Development Observation and Analysis

    1540 Words  | 4 Pages

    Looking at child development from a biological perspective is a tactic very popular throughout the scientific community (Gardner, 2005). Many theories, such as the maturational theory and ethological theory, help to enforce the biological theory, which states that development is determined primarily by biological forces (McNamara, 2011). After exploring Jerry and Samantha’s development, specifically social progress, through a biological lens, much rationality is apparent as to why these two first graders experience dif...

    Read More

  • What Are Heroes? Who Are Heroes?

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article The Power of Parental Influence in Child Development, parents are key part in a child’s influence. For this reason, it is the environment that the parent/guardian provides and not the genetic material from the parent. The author states “So, although your genes lay out a blueprint for your potential development, they do not determine the way in which you will grow. Instead, it is the environment your parents create that instructs and directs your genes by enhancing some and turning off others. In other words, parents are the true gene therapists” (Gross). Of course, whatever the parent/guardian does and does not do will be a strong influence on the child. According to the article, “After all, in these critical first few years of life, your baby isn’t just building language and communication skills – he’s building his very personality. This means that your choices­ – what you say (and don’t say), what you do (and don’t do) – strongly influence who your child becomes. You are a key co-author in the book of his life”(Gross). On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that the child needs special teaching, all the parent/guardian have to do is support the child. In the text, the author states “Moreover, contrary to what you’ve been told (or sold), your child doesn’t necessarily need special teachers, lessons, or flashcards. But what he does need is a supporting, stimulating environment” (Gross). Furthermore,

    Read More

  • Nature vs. Nurture - We are Influenced by a Combination

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    and behavior of the child. In fact, the more we understand about development and behavior, the better. the more obvious it becomes that nature and nurture are similarly influences. rather than determinants, not only singly but also in combination. Here below, I will endeavour to expose the leading theories dealing with the question of nature.

    Read More

  • Philosophy Of Early Childhood Education

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    I believe that a child’s growth is developmental, and each child needs a secure caring and motivating atmosphere in which to grow and developed emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. I believe nature and nurture are the two aspects that influence in child development. Nature and nurture are different in several ways, but they both play an important role in child development. I believe that the environment that a person grows up in has the most influence on child development because children reflect what they are taught and what they learn from the people around them.

    Read More

  • Nature Vs Nurture Theory Bronfenbrenner

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bronfenbrenner theorised that there are many different influences that affect a child’s development, forming 5 systems to categorise certain events, or environments into. This theory helps me to understand the theme of Nature Vs Nurture, as it gives some context as to what environments can affect a child's development. From this, we can work out solutions for each child's situation, to ensure that their development is still progressing.

    Read More

  • How Nurture is More Dominant than Nature

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Undoubtedly, humans are unique and intricate creatures and their development is a complex process. It is this process that leads people to question, is a child’s development influenced by genetics or their environment? This long debate has been at the forefront of psychology for countless decades now and is better known as “Nature versus Nurture”. The continuous controversy over whether or not children develop their psychological attributes based on genetics (nature) or the way in which they have been raised (nurture) has occupied the minds of psychologists for years. Through thorough reading of experiments, studies, and discussions however, it is easy to be convinced that nurture does play a far more important in the development of a human than nature.

    Read More

  • Down's Syndrome Essay

    2901 Words  | 6 Pages

    It is a genetic condition. It can cause learning disability and also it can affect your physical features. It can affect your physical appearance and also your ability to learn and develop mentally. Down’s syndrome is a lifelong condition, and it occurs from the from birth. Down’s syndrome happening because a baby inherits an extra chromosome. When a baby is conceived, it inherits genetic substances from its parents. Down’s syndrome happening because of a fault with a chromosome which is called the 21 chromosome. It happens when a child or baby inherits an extra 21 chromosome. The child or adult with down’s syndrome inherits 47 chromosomes instead of 46 and which can affect their physical and mental features. It tends to affect both male and females equally. The people who have Down’s syndrome tend to have many typical physical features which include, they may have eyes which slant upwards, they may have small ears, they might have flat back of head, swollen tongue, small mouth, flattened nose bride, they mig...

    Read More

  • Nature Vs Nurture Essay

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    A lot of theorists are stuck in the middle of the nature verses nurture. Some believe it’s a biological factor ultimately responsible for human growth. Others believe that children become whatever the environment shapes them to be.

    Read More

  • Human Child Growth and Development

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    From preschool into early elementary school, children have begun to develop their gross motor skills. They have developed a “mature pattern of walking” and are ready to test their physical abilities to the limits. Also fine motor skills have begun to develop, however more slowly. Along with motor skills children are developing their visual, tactile, and kinesthetic senses. A child’s sensory skills are helpful in learning language.

    Read More

  • Child Development: Heredity and Environment

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    The distinction between nature versus nurture or even environment versus heredity leads to the question of: does the direct environment or the nature surrounding an adolescent directly influence acts of delinquency, later progressing further into more radical crimes such as murder or psychotic manifestation, or is it directly linked to the hereditary traits and genes passed down from that individual adolescent’s biological parents? To answer this question one must first understand the difference between nature, nurture, environment, and heredity. Nurture, broken down further into environment, is defined as various external or environmental factors one is exposed to which can be more specifically broken down into social and physical aspects. Nature, itself broken down into heredity, is defined as the genetics and the individual characteristics in one’s personality or even human nature.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Nature And Nurture In Child Development

    1276 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the study of child development, nature and nurture are two essential concepts that immensely influence future abilities and characteristics of developing children. Nature refers to the genetically obtained characteristics and abilities that influence development while nurture refers to the surrounding environmental conditions that influence development. Without one or the other, a child may not develop some important skills, such as communication and walking. The roles of physiological and psychological needs in a person’s life are also crucial for developing children. Humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow, suggested that humans don’t only aim towards survival, but also aim towards self-actualization (Rathus, P. 94).

    Read More

More about Genetics, Child Growth and Development

Open Document