Heredity and Hormones

Human behavior varies from person to person, but heredity and hormones can have an influence on human behavior. When the body has been subjected to an unusual situation that stimulates fear within the person, the brain will be stimulated to produce the hormone adrenaline. This hormone increases glucose concentration in the muscle tissues and prepares the body for flight. When a person decides to run away from a situation they have been empowered through the actions of hormones. Genes on the other hand are always present regardless of the environment or situation. Hormone concentrations are determined mostly by their surroundings, but this does not occur in genetics and heredity. In genetic and heredity a person is either born with the gene for albinism or not and this cannot be altered through drugs or any external factor. Heredity and hormones are also quite similar with regard to their influence on human behavior. Genes can affect other genes which affect one’s behavior. Similarly, hormones can be stimulated by other hormones and this have an overall effect on behavior. For instance, there are certain genes that are hidden in the female body while they are dominant in the male body. This is because the presence of the Y chromosome in males activates these genes. These are what are called the sex-linked genes. For instance, the gene responsible for growing hairs in ears is only prevalent in males and inactive in females. Similarly, tropic hormones affect the production of endocrine hormones which affect behavior

The endocrine system is a system of glands; each gland secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body. The thyroid gland is located just below the voice box and it produces one primary hormone. Thyroxin is the hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroxin regulates the body’s rate of metabolism. The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain. It secrets the hormone melatonin which helps to regulate a...