Effect of Heredity and Environment on Child Development & Learning

 

 

Introduction:

Role of heredity and environment in the developmental process of individual is highly associated. Heredity is the genes or characteristic traits that are transmitted to the offspring from the parents. But, environment means the surroundings of and individual. Environment is the overall processes of an individual’s surroundings. Both the heredity and environment have deep impact on the developmental process as well as learning process. So, it is important to understand the role of heredity and development on child development. Multiple questions are asked from this topic in competitive exams like LP TET, UP TET, GT TET, PGT TET, CTET, NVS TET, KV TET or other teacher recruitment examinations. Below a brief concept is given on heredity and environment along with their role in developmental process. Get more questions on Environmental Science, GK, CDP, General Science, History with Career Home.

Key Points: Heredity and Environment on Development

– Heredity is the transmission of genetic traits or characteristics from parents to offspring.
– It includes looks, intelligence, cognitive abilities, behavioral patterns etc.
– Characteristics or traits are transferred through DNA or genes from one generation to another generation.
– The environment is the overall atmosphere around us. It influences the development of a child.
– Environment may be two types like physical environment and social environment.

Heredity and it’s Effect on Child Development:

– On Physical Characteristics: Heredity influences the physical characteristics of a child. Characteristics are transmitted from the parents to children through the genes or DNA. For example, if parents have good health and height or physique then the offspring of such parents will be healthy and good looking.

– On Intelligence: The intelligence also transferred from the parents to the child though the gene. If the IQ of a parent is high then the IQ of the child will also be high.

– On Character: A child also obtains the characters from the parents. The moral development is also inherited from parents. According to Dugwell, a person’s character influences the character of his child.

 

Role of Environment on Child’s Development:

The word Environment is derived from the French word ‘Environia’ meaning ‘to surround’. Various environmental factors influence the learning and development of a child.

According to Nastase, “Environment is the factor which affects a human being besides his life.”

The physical environment around children is the family, peer groups, school, society etc. The mental environment refers to the mentality of parents or other family members that the child observes everyday.
Both the physical and mental environment influence the developmental process of the children.

 

MCQs: Heredity and Environment-

1. Which one of the following doesn’t influence the developmental process of a child?

A. Heredity
B. Environment
C. Nutrition
D. None of the above

Ans: D. None of the above

 

2. An intelligent father has an intelligent child due to

A. Nurture
B. Nutrition
C. Environment
D. Heredity

Ans: D. Heredity

 

3. The physical characteristics of a child is influenced by which of the following

A. Father’s DNA
B. Mother’s DNA
C. Both Father’s and Mother’s DNA
D. Environment

Ans: C. Both Father’s and Mother’s DNA

 

4. The characteristics are carried out from parents to offspring by the

A. Genes
B. Mitochondria
C. Golgi bodies
D. Blood

Ans: A. Genes

 

5. Which of the following is an environmental factor?

A. Blood
B. Cell
C. Nutrition
D. Family

Ans: D. Family

 

6. If the IQ of a father and mother is high. The probable IQ of their child will be?

A. Low
B. High
C. Average
D. Can’t predict

Ans: B. High

 

7. “Environment is the factor which affects a human being besides his life.” Who said this-

A. Piaget

B. Kohlberg

C. Skinner

D. Nastase

Ans: D. Nastase