Biological Assumptions

Question 1

(1) What is Evoloution?

Answer 1

Evolution is the gradual change of a species over time and many generations. The theory was presented by Charles Darwin first published in 1859. Darwin argued that evolution happens through natural selection

Question 2

(1) How could evolution explain a possible predisposition to fear snakes and spiders?

Answer 2

Some snakes/spiders may have fatal effects for us. SO as humans, we instinctively avoid them to survive for longer so we can reproduce.

Question 3

(1) What are the 3 main assumptions of natural selection?

Answer 3

1) Only a small portion of each generation survives to reproduce
2) Offspring are not identical to their parents (degree of variation) and that at least some of this variation is heritable.
3) Some characteristics give the animal an advantage
Characteristics give the animal a greater chance of survival and reproduction are adaptive - better adapted to the environment which means more likely to survive. These characteristics pass these adaptive genes on to their genetics.

Question 4

(1) How is altruism adaptive?

Answer 4

altruism - selflessness for an offspring
Saving an offspring enhances the survival of that individual’s gene pool. It has to be done or otherwise the species wouldn’t survive

Question 5

(1) Why do men prefer young women with wide hips and narrow waists?

Answer 5

For fertility, they produce offspring and can bear children.

Question 6

(1) Other behaviors that we could argue as adaptive?

Answer 6

Aggression - protection/intimidation
Intelligence - live longer
Love - co-operation/reproduction

Question 7

(1) What is Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA)?

Answer 7

The environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) is the ancestral environment to which a species is adapted

Question 8

(1) What traits would have been adaptive for early humans?

Answer 8

Making shelter
Hard work
Co-habitation (community)
Hunting
Clothes making
Shelter
Keeping watch

Question 9

(2) What are the two halves of the brain called?

Answer 9

Hemispheres

Question 10

(2) How many neurons are there in the brain and spinal cords?

Answer 10

Roughly 100 billion

Question 11

(2) What are the names of all the lobes?

Answer 11

Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

Question 12

(2) If the motor cortex was damaged, what consequences would there be?

Answer 12

A change in mobility/co ordination

Question 13

(2) If the visual cortex was damaged, what consequences would there be?

Answer 13

A change of vision

Question 14

(3) How does the nervous system work

Answer 14

Neurons pass messages from one neuron to the next via small gaps between the neurons called a synapse. The messages are passed by chemicals called neurotransmitters. This allows the brain to process thoughts and neurons

Question 15

(3) Neurons work in the following way

Answer 15

At the receiving end there are dendrites surrounding a cell body with a nucleus.
From the cell body there is an axon, which reaches to an axon terminal.
The axon terminal reaches the dendrites of other neurons.
Between the axon terminal and the dendrites there is a gap called a synapse.
An electrical nerve impulse is sent down the axon to the axon terminal.
This causes presynaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitters into the synapse.
On the dendrites of the receiving neuron, there are receptors to receive the neurotransmitter from the axon terminals of other neurons.
When these receptors cells receive a neurotransmitter it triggers a nerve impulse which is sent down the axon.