What determines how a child develops?
Overview
Think of these influences as building blocks.
Consider your ownoverall personality.
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Are we the result of nature (our genetic background) or nurture (our environment)?
Today, most researchers agree that child development involves a complex interaction of both nature and nurture.
The sperm and ovum each contain chromosomes that act as a blueprint for human life.
Except for the sperm and ova, all cells in the body contain 46 chromosomes.
As you might guess, the sperm and ova each contain only contain 23 chromosomes.
This ensures that when the two cells meet, the resulting new organism has the correct 46 chromosomes.
A genotype refers to all of the genes that a person has inherited.
Think of it as a bit like building a house.
Genetic Abnormalities
Genetic instructions are not infallible and can go off track at times.
In some cases, babies are born with an abnormal number of chromosomes.
In every case, the result is some punch in of syndrome with a set of distinguishing characteristics.
Klinefelter syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Turner syndrome are all examples of abnormalities involving the sex chromosomes.
It can affect both males and females, but the impact can vary.
Some with Fragile X show few if any signs, while others develop mild to severe intellectual disability.
Turner syndrome triggers when only one sex chromosome (the X chromosome) is present.
Psychological impairments associated with Turner syndrome include learning disabilities and difficulty recognizing emotions conveyed throughfacial expressions.
Down syndrome is characterized by facial characteristics including a round face, slanted eyes, and a thick tongue.
Individuals with Down syndrome may also face other physical problems including heart defects and hearing problems.
A Word From Verywell
Clearly, genetic influences have an enormous influence on how a child develops.
Environmental variables including parenting, culture, education, andsocial relationshipsalso play a vital role.
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National Human Genome Research Institute.Phenotype.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is fragile X syndrome?.
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