Genetics of Development

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Professor Michael Thomas
• Assessment: a written essay of 2000-2500 words (100%)

The primary aim of this module is to provide you with a focused overview of contemporary research investigating genetic effects on cognitive development and to characterise the current methods used to address the nature-nurture debate.

By the end of this module, you should be:

• able to describe the principal methods used to assess genetic influences on cognition
• able to discuss the pathway from gene to cognition and what is intended by the term 'gene for X' where X is a cognitive ability or trait
• familiar with some of the debates regarding the use of molecular evidence to inform developmental psychology.