In this chapter you will learn

• How biological psychology grew out of philosophy and physiology
• How brain scientists think about the mind-brain problem
• How behavior is inherited and the relationship between heredity and environment

This chapter introduces the student to the subject area of biological psychology.  The historical foundations are described by discussing the major philosophical question of how the relationship between the mind and the brain: is the mind independent of the brain and physical world or is it simply the changes that occur in the brain of the individual?  Our understanding of the brain has been increased through the discovery of electrical properties of the nervous system, and that important functions appear to be (somewhat) localized to specific brain areas.  The chapter then discusses the debate of the relative roles of genetics and environment in controlling behavior, with an Application box about a computer composed of DNA and the storage capabilities of the molecule.  One interesting point is made that traits on the X-chromosome disproportionately affect males. While scientists sequenced the entire human genetic code through the Human Genome Project in 2006, we still do not understand what many of our genes do, the range of genetic variation that occurs naturally in humans, and the complex roles the environment plays in modulating and controlling our genes.  The chapter concludes with a discussion on how we can quantify the relative importance of genetics versus environment on the expression of behavior.