Chapter 1 Flashcards
According to David Chalmers why is there a s such thing as consciousness?
Easy Problem: Consciousness can take on different forms
Hard Problem: Given this universe is composed of matter, ions, and energy
What is the idea of dualism according to Rene Descarte?
Dual=meaning two. The belief that the mind and the brain are different kinds of substance and exist independently @ the pineal gland
What is monism?
Mon=meaning one. The belief that the universe consist of only one kind of substance.
Define biological psychology
The study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.
What is the physiological explanation?
It relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs
What is the ontogenetic explanation?
describes how a structure of behavior develops, including the influence of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions.
What is evolutionary explanation?
reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior
What is functional explanation?
describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did
What do things in life for humans depend on?
everything depends on both your genes and your environment.
What idea did Gregor Mendel come up with?
Demonstrated that inheritance depends on genes by using pea plants
What are genes?
Units of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another.
Describe genes
Exist in pairs (x,y)
23 pairs of chromosomes
1-22 autosomal
23- sex limited
What are chromosomes?
strands of genes composed of DNA
What is the breakdown of the synthesis?
DNA-RNA-(protein made of ) Amino acids (20)
DNA strand
RNA strand
Adenine,guanine,cytosine,thymine (agct)
Adenine,guanine, cytosine, uracil (agcu)
What are enzyme?
biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body
What are the two genes?
Homo= two identical - identical pair of genes on the chromosome
Heter- different- unmatched pair of genes
The gene for brown eyes, and the ability to taste PTC is?
Dominant gene shows a strong affect in either homozygous or heterozygous conditions.
The gene for blue eyes and the low taste to PTC is
shows its effect only in the homozygous condition
What are some misconceptions?
If you have a gene for a trait, it always produce that outcome
A single gene completely controls a charateristic
What are sex linked genes?
Genes are located on the sex chromosomes
f=(X,X)
m=(X,Y)
Male determines the sex of the baby
What are the sex limited genes?
genes that are present in both sexes, but active mainly in one sex.
X chromosome has 1500 proteins
Y chromosome has 27 proteins
What is the name of the genetic change?
Mutation- heritable change in a DNA molecule
What are two kinds of mutations?
Duplication- part of a chromosome might appear twice
Deletion- might be taken out
What is epigenetics?
deals with changes in gene expression without modification of DNA sequence
how to activate a gene?
loosen the DNA around the histone
How to turn off a gene?
removal of acetyl group causes histones to tighten their grip
What are the names of two twins?
monozygotic twins-developed from one egg “identical twins)
dizygotic-developed from two eggs fraternal twins
What is heritability?
degree to which variations in some characteristics depend on genetic difference (except religion)
What is PKU?
genetic inability to metabolize the amino acid
hereditary condition, but environmental interventions can modify it
What is artificial selection?
Choosing individuals with a desired trait and using them as parents for the next generation
What was Darwin’s insight about natural selection?
if certain individuals are more useful than others
What is altruistic behavior?
an action that benefits someone other than the actor
What is reciprocal alltrusim?
idea that individuals help those who will return the favor
define kin selection
selection for a gene that benefits the individual’s relatives
