Additive and Interactive Effects of Genotype and Maternal Environment

Abstract

Publisher Summary The interaction between genotype and environment is one of the most widely employed concepts in genetics as it is in the behavioral sciences. This chapter discusses on maternal environments and their additive or interactive effects with the offspring genotype. It presents the thesis: that there are nonlinear relationships between gene and the central nervous system (CNS) functioning, including behavior. Most of the genetic information involved in higher nervous activity is susceptible to modification by the effect of components of the environment, particularly of the maternal one. The concepts of interactive and additive effects are discussed from a genetic standpoint. The components of the maternal environment are defined. Their interactive and additive effects with offspring genotype are presented. The physiological mechanisms underlying these effects are also analyzed.