(1) Biological Foundations of Psychology Flashcards
The hippocampus (memory) is larger in…
women
the amygdala (emotion) is larger in…
men
Biological mechanisms and processes underpin all…
behaviour
What are the 4 levels of analysis?
- Social interaction – brain responses
- Gross anatomy of the brain
- Single neuron activity
- Molecular properties
What are Prokaryotes?
(mainly bacteria) not internal membrane-bound structures (PRO before)
What are Eukaryotes?
(higher plant and animal cells) Internal membrane-bound structures (EU truly)
What is a plasma membrane?
The boundary between the cell and its environment
What does a plasma membrane do?
Maintains homeostasis (GO: good stuff, nutrients, STOP: bad stuff, waste)
What is Selective permeability?
the plasma membrane allows some molecules into the cell and keeps some out
- Some molecules can cross the plasma membrane (water)
- Others must go through channels (Sodium NA, Calcium Ca)
Are Fatty acid tails hydrophobic or hydrophilic
hydrophobic
Are Phosphate heads hydrophobic or hydrophilic
hydrophilic
What is the purpose of the Nucleus?
- The leader of the cell
- Gives directions for the making of the proteins
What is the chromatin?
- The master set of directions is in chromatin
- During cell division, chromatin condenses to form chromosomes
What is inside the nucleus and what does it do?
Inside the nucleus is the nucleolus
-Makes ribosomes
What are ribosomes?
-Ribosomes are sites where proteins are made, according to instructions from DNA
What is a gene?
a molecular unit of heredity, a region of DNA that codes for a unit of inheritance (polypeptide: short chain of amino acids)
What are proteins?
one of more biologically functional polypeptide
Proteins are synthesised from a ‘menu’ of…
20 amino acids
The amino acids must be put together in the…
correct sequence, in order to be synthesised (DNA)
What are amino acids?
Small molecules bases around a carbon chain with an amino group and a carboxyl group
How many nucleotide bases do DNA have?
4
What does adenine pair with?
Adenine and thymine pair together like a lock and key
What does guanine pair with?
Guanine and cytosine pair together due to their complementary shapes
Where is DNA?
in the nucleus
RNA differs from DNA in 3 ways:
- RNA is single stranded
- The sugar in RNA is Ribose instead of deoxyribose
- RNA has uracil instead of thymine
What are the three RNAs?
messenger, ribosomal and transfer
What does Messenger RNA (mRNA) do?
- brings messages from the DNA to the cytoplasm
- Carries the genetic information copied from DNA in the form of a series of three-base code ‘words’ -> amino acids
What does Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) do?
- helps ribosomes connect to mRNA
- Associates with a set of proteins to form ribosomes
What does Transfer RNA (tRNA) do?
- transports the amino acids to the ribosomes
- Is the key to deciphering the code words in mRNA
The genes in DNA encode…
protein molecules, which are the “workhorses” of the cell, carrying out all the functions necessary for life
What is Transcription?
The information in DNA is transferred to a mRNA molecule by way of a process
-DNA of a gene serves as a template for complementary
What is Translation?
mRNA is ‘read’ according to the genetic code, which relates the DNA sequence to the amino acid sequence in proteins
-A complete DNA molecule is called a
chromosome
What is Rett Syndrome?
a genetic disorder that causes mental retardation and impairs movement
What is the MECP2 gene?
the gene lies on the X chromosome – females with a faulty copy usually have a normal version too, males with a mutated MECP2 gene do not usually survive beyond infancy
