The course will contribute to the aims of the course of Psychology providing the knowledge about the biological and genetic bases of human behavior, with particular reference to the effects of environmental factors in the modulation of the genetic contribute to cognitive abilities and of the mechanisms at the basis of evolutionary and developmental theories about them.

Expected results:
The student is expected to know the role played by genetics in human cognitive abilities as well as in different behavioral traits, and to develop and apply original thoughts even within research context in the field of behavioral genetics. Moreover, it is expected that students will be able to understand the main experimental protocols used in this field and to produce novel hypotheses about the role played by genetics in human behavior. They will also be expected to understand data provided by experimental approaches such as Genome wide analysis, study of candidate genes and experimental approaches on animal models.
Regarding evolutionary biology, at the end of the course the students must have acquired sufficient knowledge to understand the evolutionary mechanisms that are the basis of human behavior. It is expected that students will be able to develop, based on bio-evolutionary research, a critical path between the origins of evolutionary thought and modern visions that integrate different disciplines such as genetics and especially epigenetics, which flow into a unitary thought, linking evolution to the development of the human being.
Finally, the student should be able to correctly use the specific scientific language of these disciplines and to communicate with competence his/her knowledges in these fields.