3 Flashcards
Biological Evolution
changes that take place in the genetic and physical characteristics of a population or group of organisms over time
Adaptive Significance
the effectiveness of behaviour in aiding organisms to asap to change environmental conditions/ therefore refers to the beneficial qualities, in terms of increased survival and reproduction, a trait conveys
Ultimate Causes
evolutionary conditions that have slowly shaped the behaviour of a species over time
Proximate Causes
immediate environmental events and conditions that affect behaviou
Culture
the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs & behaviour patterns common to a particular group of people
Artificial Selection
a procedure in which particular animals are deliberately mated to produce offspring that posses especially desirable characteristics
Natural Selection
the consequence of the fact that, because there are physical and behavioural differences among organisms, they reproduce differentially. Within a given population, some animals - the survivors will produce more offspring than other animals
Reproductive Success
the number of viable offspring an individual produces relative to the number of viable offspring produced by other members of the same species
Variation
the differences found across individuals of any given species in terms of their genetic, biological (size, strength, physiology) and psychological (intelligence, sociability, behaviour) characteristics
Genotype
an organism’s genetic makeup
Phenotype
the outward expression of an organism’s genotype; and organism’s physical characteristics and behaviour
Competition
a striving or vying with others who share the same ecological niche for food, mates & territory
Genetics
the study of the genetic makeup of organisms and how it influences their physical and behavioural characteristics
Heredity
the sum of the traits and tendencies inherited from a person’s parents & other biological ancestors
DNA
the DNA structure resembles that of twisted ladder. Strands of sugar and phosphate are connected by rungs made from nucleotide molecules of adenine, thymine, guanine & cytosine
Genes
small units of DNA that direct the synthesis of proteins & enzymes
Genome
the total set of genetic material of an organism
Enzymes
proteins that regulate the structure of bodily cells and the processes occurring within those cells
Chromosomes
threadlike structures in the nuclei of living cells; contain genes
Sex Chromosomes
the chromosomes that contain the instructional code for the development of male or female sex characteristics
Autosomes
the chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes
Meiosis
the form of cell division by which new sperm and ova are formed. The chromosomes with the cell are randomly rearranged so that new sperm and ova contain 23 individual chromosomes (1/2 those found in other body cells)
Alleles
alternative forms of the same gene
Dominant Trait
the trait that is exhibited when an individual posses heterozygous alleles
Recessive Trait
a trait that occurs only when it is expressed by homozygous alleles
Mutation
accidental alterations in the DNA code within a single gene. Mutations can be spontaneous, occurring naturally or the result of environmental factors (ex. exposure to radiation)
Chromosomal Aberration
the rearrangement of genes within chromosomes or a change in the total number of chromosomes
Down Syndrome
a genetic disorder caused by chromosomal aberration resulting in an extra 21st chromosome. People with this disease show impairments in physical, psychomotor and cognitive development
Huntington’s Disease
a genetic disorder caused by a dominant lethal gene in which a person experience’s slow but progressive mental and physical deterioration
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
a genetic disorder caused by a particular pair of homozygous recessive genes and characterized by the inability to break down phenylalanine (an amino acid in may high-protein foods). The resulting high blood levels of phenylalanine causes mental retardation
Heritability
the amount of variability in a given trait in a given population at a given time due to genetic factors
Behaviour Genetics
the study of genetic influences on behaviour
Mendelian Trait
a trait showing a classical dominant, recessive or sex-linked pattern of inheritance. Mendelian traits are usually dichotomous and are controlled by a single locus
Non-Mendelian Trait
a trait that does not show the inheritance pattern described by Mendel. Non-Mendelian traits are usually polygenic and show continuous variation in the phenotype.
Genetic Engineering
the new scientific discipline of manipulating genetic sequences to alter an organism’s genome
Knockout Manipulation
n artificially constructed genetic sequence inserted into a gene to inactivate it
Genetic Marker -
a known DNA sequence that occurs at a particular place in the chromosome
Concordance Research
research that studies the degree of similarity between twins in traits expressed. Twins are said to be concordant for a trait if either both or neither twin expresses it; discordant if only one twin expresses it
Epigentic Modifications
changes in cell inheritance that are not due to alterations in the sequence of DNA nucleotides
Bipedalism
the ability to move about the environment upright on two feet
Encephalization
an increase in brain size
Cultural Evolution
the adaptive changes of cultures in response to environmental changes over time
Sociobiology
the study of the genetic bases of social behaviour
Reproductive Strategies
different systems of mating and rearing offspring. Include monogamy, polygyny, polyandry, polygyandry
Monogamy
the mating of one female and one male
Polygyny
the mating of one male with more than one female
Polyandry
the mating of one female with more than one male
Polygynandry
the mating of several females with several males
Parental Investment
the resources, including time, physical effort and risks to life that a parent spends in procreation and the feeding, nurturing and protecting of offspring
Sexual Selection
selection for traits specific to sex such as body size or particular patterns of behaviour
Altruism
the unselfish concern of one individual for the welfare of another
inclusive Fitness
- the reproductive success of those who share common genes
Kin Selection
a type of selection that favours altruistic acts tuned at individuals who share some of the altruist’s genes such as parents, siblings, grandchildren and under some conditions, distant relatives
Reciprocal Altruism
altruism in which people behave altruistically toward one another because they are confident that such acts will be reciprocated toward either them or their kin
