CC 811 Chap 3 & 4 Flashcards
Species Heredity
The genetic endowment that members of a species have in common, including genes that influence maturation and aging processes.
Natural Selection
The idea that nature “selects”, or allows to survive and reproduce, those members of a species whose genes permit them to adapt to their environment.
Cultural Evolution
The process through which we “inherit” from previous generations a characteristically human environment and tried and true ways of adapting to it, and we then learn to adjust to changing conditions and pass on what we learn to the next generation.
Chromosomes
Threadlike bodies in the nucleus of each cell that are made up of genes, the basis units of heredity.
Meiosis
The process of reproduction for sperm and ova during which chromosome cells split (into 23 pairs) and create new sperm or ova bodies.
Conception
The moment when the egg is feritilized by a sperm.
Zygote
A single cell formed at conception from the union of a sperm and an ovum.
Mitosis
The process in which a cell duplicates its chromosomes and then divides into two genetically identical daughter cells (Think: Meiosis requires two cells; Mitosis requires one cell).
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, the double helix molecule whose chemical code makes up chromosomes and serves as our genetic endowment; it is made up of sequences of the chemicals (adenine), C (cytocine), G (guanine) and T (thymine).
Allele
One of the possible variants of a gene.
Human Genome Project
A federally funded project during which researchers mapped the sequence of the chemical units or “letters” that make up the strands of DNA in a full set of human chromosomes.
‘Crossing over’
A ‘quirk’ in meiosis that occurs when chromosomes cross each other and exchange a little bit of themselves during the process. This is what makes the genetic uniqueness of children with the same parents possible.
Identical Twins
Also called “monozygotic twins”, these children are conceived when one fertilized ovum divides to form two or more genetically identical individuals.
Fraternal Twins
Also called “dizygotic twins” because two eggs are involved, these children are conceived when two ova are released at approzimately the same time and each is fertilized by a different sperm. This happens in about 1 in every 125 births.
X Chromosome
The longer of the two sex chromosomes; normal females have two X chromosomes, whereas normal males have only one.
Y Chromosome
The shorter of the two sex chromosomes; normal males have one Y chromosome and normal females have none.
Karotype
A chromosomal portrait created by staining chromosomes, photographing them under a high-power microscope, and arranging them into a predetermined pattern.
Genotype
The genetic endowmentthat an individual inherits. Contrast with phenotype.
Phenotype
The way in which a person’s genotype is expressed in observable or measurable characteristics.
Gene Expression
The activation of particular genes in particular cells of the body at particular times in life.
Single gene-pair inheritance
The genetic mechanism through which a characteristic is influenced by only one pair of genes, one gene from from the mother and its partner from the father.
Dominant Gene
A relatively powerful gene that is expressed phenotypically and makes the effect of a less-powerful recessive gene.
Recessive Gene
A less powerful gene that is not expressed phenotypically when paired with a dominant gene.
Incomplete Dominance
A condition in which a stronger gene fails to mask all the effects of a weaker partner gene; a phenotype results that is similar but not identical to the effect of the stronger gene.
Codominance
In genetics, an instance in which two different but equally powerful genes produce a phenotype in which both genes are expressed.
Sex-linked Characteristic
An attribute determined by a gene that appears on one of the two types of sex chromosomes, usually the X chromosome.
Hemophilia
A deficiency in the blood’s ability to clot. It is more common among males than females because it is associated with a sex-linked gene on the X chromosome.
Polygenic Trait
A characteristic influenced by the action of many gene pairs rather than a single pair.
Mutation
A change in the structure or arrangement of one or more genes that produces a new phenotype.
Sicke-Cell Disease
A genetic blod disease in which red blood cells assume an unusual sickle shape and become insufficient at distributing oxygen throughout the body.
Chromosome Abnormalities
Conditions in which a child as too few, too many, or incomplete chromosomes because of errors in the formation of sperm or ova.
Down Syndrome
A chromosomal abnormality in which a child has inherited an extra 21st chromosome and is, as a result, mentally retarded; also called trisomy 21.
Turner Syndrome
A sex chromosome abnormality in which females inherit only one X Chromosome (XO); they remain small in stature, fail to develop secondary sex characteristics, and may show some mental difficiencies.
Klinefelter Syndrome
A sex chromosome abnormality in which males inherit two or more X Chromosomes (XXY or XXXY); these males fail to develop secondary sex characteristics and often show deficiencies on tests of verbal abilities.
Fragile X Chromosome
A chromosome abnormality in which one arm of the X chromosome is only barely connected to the rest of the chromosomes; the most common hereditary cause of mental retardation.
Genetic Counseling
A service designed to inform people about genetic conditons that they or their unborn children are at risk of inheriting.
Carrier
In genetics, indiciduals who possess a recessive gene associated with a disease and who, although they do not have the disease, can transmit the gene for it to offspring.
Huntington’s Disease
A genetic disease caused by a single, dominant gene that strikes in middle age to produce a deterioration of physical and mental abilities and premature death.
Ultrsound
Method of examining physical organs by scanning them with sound waves– for example, scanning the womb and thereby producing a visual outline of the fetus to detect gross abnormalities.
Amniocentesis
A method of extracting amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman so that fetal body cells within the fluid can be tested for chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic defects.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
An alternative to amniocentesis in which a catheter is inserted through the cervix to withfraw fetal cells from the chorion for prenatal testing to detect genetic defects.
Maternal Blood Sampling
A noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis involving testing for substances in maternal blood; more recently, analysis of fetal cells that have slipped through the placenta into the mother’s blood.
Preimplatation genetic diagnosis
A prenatal diagnostic procedure in which a mother’s eggs are fertilized in the laboratory using in vitro fertilization techniques, DNA tests are conducted on the first cells that result from mitosis of each fertilized egg, and only eggs that do not have chromosome abnormalities or genes associated with disorders are implanted in the uterus.
Behavioral Genetics
The scientific study of the extent to which genetic and environmental differences among individuals are responsible for differences among them in traits such as intelligence and personality.
Heritability
The amount of variability in a population on some trait dimension that is attributable to genetic differences among those individuals.
Selective Breeding
A method of studying genetic influence that involves deliberately determining whether a trait can be bred in animals through selective mating.
Twin Study
A method of studying genetic and environmental influence in which the similarity of identical twins in compared to that of (less genetically similar) fraternal twins, often in studies involving both twins reared together and twins reared apart.
Adoption Study
Method of studying genetic and environmental influence that infolves determining whether adopted children are more similar to their biological parents (whose genes they share) or adoptive parents (who shaped their environment).
Concordance Rate
The percentage of cases in which a particular attribute is present for both members of a pair of people (for example, twins) if it is present for one member.
Shared Environmental Influences
Experiences that individuals living in the same home environment share and that work to make them similar. Contrast with “nonshared environmental influences”.
Nonshared Environmental Infleunces
Experiences unique to the individual that are not shared by other members of the family and that tend to make members of the same family differene. Contrast with “shared environmental influences”.
Molecular Genetics
The analysis of particular genes and their effects, including the identification of specific genes that influence particualr traits and the comparison of animals or humans who have these specific genes and those who do not.
Temperment
A genetically based pattern of tendencies to respond in predictable ways; building blocks of personality such as activity level, sociability and emotionality.
Schizoprenia
A serious form of mental illness characterized by disturbances in logical thinking, emotional expression, and interpersonal behavior.
Gene-Environment Interaction
The phenomenon in which the effects of people’s genes depend on the kind of environment they experience and in which the effects of the environment depend on their genetic endowment.
Gene-Environment Correlation
A systematic interrelationship between an individual’s genes and that individual’s environment; ways in which genes influence the kind of home environment provided by parents (passive gene-environment correlation), the social reactions to the individual (evocative gene-environment correlation), and the types of experiences the individual seeks (active gene-environment correlation).
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
A genetic disease in which the child is unable to metabolize phenylalanine; if left untreated, it soon causes hyperactivity and mental retardation.
Gene Therapy
Interventions that involve substituting normal genes for the genes associated with a disease or disorder; otherwise altering a person’s genetic makeup.
Stem Cell
Undifferentiated, primitive cells that have the ability both to multiply and to differentiate into a variety of specific cells.
Infertility
Not being able to get pregnant after a year of trying.
Artificial Insemination
A method of conception that involves injecting sperm from a woman’s partner or from a donor into the uterus.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
A procedure in which several eggs are removed from a woman’s ovary, fertilized by sperm in a petri dish in the laboratory, then transferred to the woman’s uterus in hopes that one will implant on the wall of the uterus.
Germinal Period
The first stage of prenatal development, lasting about two weeks from conception until the developing organism becomes attached to the wall of the uterus.
Miscarriage
Loss of pregnancy before survival of the baby outside the womb is possible.
Embryonic Period
Second phase of prenatal development, lasting from the through the eighth prenatal week, during which the major organs and anatomical structures begin to develop.
Blastocyst
A hallow sphere of about 100 to 150 cells that the zygote forms by rapid cell division as it moves through the fallopian tube.
Organogenesis
The process, occurring during the period of embryo, in which every major organ takes shape in a primitive form.
Amnion
A watertight membrane that fills with fluid that cushions and protects the embryo.
Chorion
A membrane that surrounds the amnion and attaches rootlike extensions called villi to the uterine lining to gather nourishment for the embryo.
Placenta
Formed from the Chorion, this is a tissue fed by blood vessels from the mother and connected to the embryo by the umbilical cord.
Spina Bifida
A neural defect, usually occurring 25-29 days after conception, in which part of the spinal cord is not fully encased in the protective covering of the spinal column.
Anencephaly
A neural defect, usually occurring 25-29 days after conception, in which the main portion of the brain above the brain stem fails to develop. This occurs when there’s a failure to close at the top of the neural tube during prenatal development.
Testosterone
The primary male sex hormone that stimulates the development of a male internal reproductive system.
Fetal Period
The period of prenatal development that lasts from the ninth week of pregnancy until birth.
Differentiation
In brain development, the progressive diversification of cells that results in their taking on different characteristics and functions.
Age Viability
The moment in prenatal development when a fetus’s survival outside the uterus is possible if the brain and respiratory system are sufficiently developed.
Myelin
An insulating cover that improves the ability for neurons to transmit signals rapidly.
Prenatal Environment
The womb; the place in which prenatal development takes place.
Teratogen
Any disease, drug, or other environmental agent that can harm a developing fetus (for example, by causing deformities, blindness, brain damage, or even death).
Critical Period
A period of rapid growth; a time during which the developing organism is especially sensitive to environmental influences, positive or negative.
Thalidomide
A tranquilizer that was widely used in Europe during the late 1950s to relieve morning sickness which proved to be very dangerous to human fetuses despite trials on pregnant rats.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
When a sleeping baby suddenly stops breathing and dies.
Feta Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
A syndrome marked by noticeable symptoms physical symptoms such as a small head and distinctive facial abnormalities caused by a mother’s ingestion of alcohol during prenatal development.
Rubella
Also known as German Measles, this disease was found to be connected with a variety of defects including blindness, deafness, heart defects, and mental retardation during the early 1940s.
Syphilis
A disease that, when carried by a pregnant mother, can cause blindness, deafness, heart problems or brain damage in her baby.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
The life-threatening illness caused by the human immunodeficiency virus HIV. This disease destroys the immune system and makes victims susceptible to “opportunistic” infections that eventually kill them unless treated with multiple drugs. Can be transmitted to infants prenatally, perinatally or postnatally.
Stillbirth
A fetal death that occurs late in the pregnancy (20 or more weeks, gestational age).
Lamaze Method
A method of prepared child birth that teaches women to associate childbirth with pleasant feelings and to ready themselves for the process by learning breathing exercises, breathing and pushing methods, and relaxation techniques that make childbirth easier.
Perinatal Environment
The environment surrounding birth; including influences such as drugs given to the mother during labor, delivery practices, and the social environment shortly after birth.
Perinatologist
A maternal-fetal specialist recommended for high-risk pregnancies associated with delivery complications.
Anoxia
A birth hazard that involves oxygen shortage for the infant or “asphyxia”.
Breech Presentation
When the infant’s feet or buttocks exits the birth canal first.
Cerebral Palsy
A neurological disability primarily associated with difficulty controlling muscle movements; it also increases the risk of learning or intellectual disabilities and speech difficulties.
Cesarean Section
A surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus so that the baby can be removed from the womb.
Postpartum Depression
An episode of clinical depression that lasts months rather than days in a woman who has just given birth.
Couvade
A series of symptoms that a father experiences in junction with his female partner during the pregnancy and birthing process. These can include bloating, weight gain, fatigue, insomnia and nausea.
Neonatal
Relating to the events during the first month and how parents might optimize the development of young infants.
At risk
Describing infants susceptible to short-term or long-term problems due to genetic defects, prenatal hazards, or perinatal damage.
Apgar Test
A routine screening for infants that provides quick assessments of the newborn’s heart rate, respiration, color, muscle tone, and reflexes.
Low Birth Weight (LBW)
A weight at birth of less than 2500 grams, or 5.5 pounds, associated with increased risk of developmental problems.
Surfactant
A substance that aids breathing by preventing the air sacs of the lungs from sticking together.
Kangaroo Care
Holding an infant skin-to-skin on a parent’s chest; often used with premature babies to help maintain body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen levels in the blood.
