1.5 Flashcards
heredity and behavior, and the evolutionary bases of behavior
what are chromosomes?
thread-like strands of DNA that carry genetic information
what are genes?
DNA segments that serve as key functional units in hereditary transmission.
what are polygenic traits?
characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes.
what are family studies?
scientific studies in which researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble each other on a specific trait.
what are twin studies?
research design in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a specific trait.
what are adoption studies?
research studies in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological parents and adoptive parents.
what is fitness?
the reproductive success of an individual relative to the average reproductive success of the population.
what is natural selection?
heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to the next generations
what is adaptation?
an inherited characteristic that proved advantageous and is passed on to future generations
