PEPSIC - pepsic.bvsalud.org

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Genetics refers to those biological factors which pertain to the “gene”, the Greek term for race, tribe. In other words, genetics relates to those elements that are common to a line of living beings, that are transmitted (inherited) along this line, and that each individual possesses only because she is part of that line. These elements – the genes – control many biological features of living organisms. Observations have also shown that patterns of behaviour exist which are typical of given species. These patterns of behaviour, which are innate and relatively independent of learning, are usually called “instincts”. The term has been applied to a wide range of behaviour (e.g., maternal instinct, nesting instinct, self-preservation instinct, etc.) and has often served us as a loophole to extricate ourselves from the issues raised by finalistic animal behaviour.