Module 3.1 - Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives on Behaviour Flashcards Preview

intro psychology > Module 3.1 - Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives on Behaviour > Flashcards

Flashcards in Module 3.1 - Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives on Behaviour Deck (49)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

genes

A

the basis units of heredity

2
Q

what are genes responsible for?

A

guiding the process of creating the proteins that make up our physical structures and regulate development and physiological processes throughout the life span

3
Q

genes are composed of ____

A

DNA

4
Q

DNA

A

a molecule formed in a double helix

5
Q

DNA is made up of 4 nucleotides called?

A

1) Guanine (G)
2) Cytosine (C)
3) Adenine (A)
4) Thymine (T)

6
Q

genotype

A

the genetic makeup of an organism–the unique set of genes that comprise that individuals genetic code

7
Q

phenotype

A

the physical traits or behavioural characteristics that show genetic variation, such as eye colour, the shape and size of facial features and even personality

8
Q

chromosomes

A

structures in the cellular nucleus that are lined with all of the genes an individual inherits

9
Q

humans have approx. ___-____ genes distributed across 23 pairs of chromosomes, half contributed by the mother ad half by the father

A

20,000 - 25,000 genes

10
Q

homozygous

A

if 2 corresponding genes at a given location on a pair of chromosomes are the same

11
Q

heterozygous

A

if 2 corresponding genes at a given location on a pair of chromosomes differ

12
Q

behavioural genomics

A

the study of DNA and the ways in which specific genes are related to behaviour

13
Q

what is the human genome project attempting to identify?

A

the entire sequence of genes in the human body

14
Q

how are genes related to diseases identified?

A

through the human genome project

15
Q

true or false: small differences in the genetic sequence can subtly change the expression of genes that regulate the timing of development

A

true

16
Q

behavioural genetics

A

the study of how genes and the environment influence behaviour

17
Q

what does behavioural genetics examine?

A

examines the genetic basis of individual differences in behaviour and personality

18
Q

monozygotic twins (identical twins)

A

come from a single ovum (egg), which makes them genetically identical (almost 100% genetic similarity)

19
Q

dizygotic twins (fraternal twins)

A

come from 2 separate eggs fertilized by 2 different sperm cells that share the same womb; these twins have approx. 50% of their genetics in common

20
Q

heritability

A

a statistic, expressed as a number between zero and one that represents the degree to which genetic differences between individuals contribute to individual differences in a behaviour or trait found in a population

21
Q

heritability is expressed as a number from __ to __

A

0 to 1

22
Q

true or false: heritability expressed as 0 means that genes do not contribute to individual differences

A

true

23
Q

true or false: heritability expressed as 1 means that genes don’t account for individual differences

A

FALSE: heritability expressed as 1 means that genes account for all individual differences

24
Q

true or false: almost all trait scores are between 0 and 1

A

true

25
Q

what 2 things affect any estimate of heritability?

A

1) the amount of genetic variability within the group being studied
2) the variability in the environments that members of that group might be exposed to

26
Q

gene expression

A

when a gene (or genes) becomes activitated

27
Q

how do genes become activated?

A

due to preprogrammed (genetic) factors and “environmental” influences

28
Q

epigenetics

A

changes in gene expression that occur as a result of experience

29
Q

natural selection

A

the process by which favourable trait become increasingly common in a population of interbreeding individuals while traits that are unfavourable become less common

30
Q

evolution

A

the change int he frquency of genes occurring in an interbreeding population over generations

31
Q

what are the 2 patterns of evolution?

A

1) Lamarckian evolution

2) Darwinian evolution

32
Q

Lamarchian evolution

A

steady, linear improvement over time

33
Q

darwinian evolution

A

changes occur in spurts; they are not continuous

34
Q

evolution occurs through ____, or when a change in the genetic sequence make one individual different from the others

A

mutations

35
Q

_______ are mutations that, through chance, helped survival

A

adaptations

36
Q

Exaptations

A

characteristics that arise in one environment, but are exploited to a much greater degree in another environment

37
Q

what change from 500,000 years ago gave us the capability for language?

A

our throat (the elongated pharynx)

38
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

a branch of psychology that attempts to explain human behaviours based on the beneficial function(s) they may have served in our species development

39
Q

natural selection

A

nature determines which genes survive and reproduce and which genes disappear from the face of the planet

40
Q

sexual selection

A

members of the opposite (or same) sex determine a genes fate

41
Q

intrasexual selection

A

a situation in which members of the same sex compete in order to win the opportunity to mate with members of th opposite sex

42
Q

intersexual selection

A

a situation in which members of one sex select mating partner based on their desirable traits

43
Q

red dress effect

A

attraction is rated higher for women wearing red clothes, red lipstick and/or red hair bands

44
Q

true or false: women judge unsuccessful looking men as being more appealing

A

FALSE: women judge successful looking men as being more appealing

45
Q

true or false: men rate almost all women as being appealing

A

true

46
Q

do men or women place a higher value on their partners economic status

A

on average females place a higher value on males economic status than men do on women

47
Q

3 things about male gametes

A
  • sperm
  • inexpensive
  • plentiful
48
Q

3 things about female gametes

A
  • eggs
  • expensive
  • limited number
49
Q

the ______ cortex in humans is more developed than that of any other species.

A

prefrontal cortex