parents
Definition
Parents are the biological or adoptive adults who raise children.
They are responsible for providing for the physical and emotional needs of their children.
Parents also play a role in shaping their children's values and beliefs.
The parent-child relationship is one of the most important relationships in a person's life.
How can the word be used?
I talked to my parents about my plans for the future.
Different forms of the word
Noun:
- parent (a person who has given birth to or adopted a child).
- parenthood (the state of being a parent).
Adjective:
- parental (of or relating to parents).
Etymology
The word "parent" is derived from the Latin word "parentem", which means "begetter". The first recorded use of the word "parent" in English was in the 14th century.
Question
What are parents?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
Discuss the role of genetics and environmental factors in determining traits passed down from parents to their offspring. Provide examples of inherited traits and explain how the interplay between genes and the environment influences the expression of these traits.
Answer:
The inheritance of traits from parents to offspring involves a complex interplay between genetics and environmental influences. Genes, inherited from parents, provide the blueprint for an organism's characteristics. However, the expression of these traits can be influenced by environmental factors.
For instance, eye colour is a hereditary trait determined by specific genes. A child's eye colour is inherited from their parents, with variations based on dominant and recessive alleles. Yet, environmental factors like sunlight exposure during childhood can influence the production of melanin in the iris, potentially altering eye colour shades.
Similarly, height is influenced by genetics, but nutrition and health during childhood play a pivotal role in determining the final height an individual attains. A person with the genetic potential for tall stature may not reach that potential if malnutrition affects their growth during critical periods of development.
The interaction between genes and the environment is known as gene-environment interaction. It showcases that while genes set the foundation for traits, environmental conditions can modify how these traits manifest. This understanding is crucial in fields like medicine and agriculture, where insights into the interplay between genes and the environment contribute to better health outcomes and enhanced crop yields.