Chapter 1 - Biological Approach

Question 1

Define dorsal view

Answer 1

From the top

Question 2

Define ventral view

Answer 2

From the bottom

Question 3

Explain the Physiological explanation

Answer 3

Relates a behaviour to the activity of the brain and other organs. It deals with the machinery of the body

Question 4

Explain the onto genetic explanation

Answer 4

Defines how a structure or behaviour develops, including the influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions

Question 5

Explain the evolutionary explanation

Answer 5

Reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behaviour. Acknowledges features left over from ancestors that no longer serve a function.

Question 6

Explain the functional explanation

Answer 6

Describes why a structure or behaviour evolved as it did

Question 7

What do biological psychologists study?

Answer 7

The animal roots of behaviour, relating actions and experiences to genetics and physiology. It is the study of physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behaviour and experience. Emphasises that the goal is to relate biology to issues of psychology. It is a point of view that we think and act because of brain mechanisms

Question 8

What is the hard problem?

Answer 8

Given this universe composed of matter and energy, why is there such a thing as consciousness?

Question 9

What is the mind-brain problem (mind-body problem)?

Answer 9

Why and how did brain activity become conscious? What is the relationship between mental experience and brain activity?

Question 10

What is a fundamental property?

Answer 10

It can not be reduced to something else

Question 11

Biological explanations of behaviour fall into 4 categories. What are they?

Answer 11

Physiological, onto genetic, evolutionary, and functional

Question 12

What are genes?

Answer 12

Units of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another.

Question 13

What are chromosomes?

Answer 13

Strands of genes. These genes come in pairs (except for make sex genes which are X and Y). Many genes do not have discrete locations, sometimes several overlap.

Question 14

What is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)?

Answer 14

A double stranded molecule. It contains 4 bases which can be in any order. The order of these bases determines the order of corresponding bases along an RNA molecule.

Question 15

What is a ribonucleic acid (RNA)?

Answer 15

A single strand chemical. It has 4 bases. The order of these bases on a RNA molecule determines the order of amino acids that compose a protein

Question 16

What are the 4 bases along the DNA?

Answer 16

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine

Question 17

What are the 4 bases along the RNA?

Answer 17

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil

Question 18

What are proteins?

Answer 18

Some proteins form part of the structure of the body. Others serve as enzymes. The proteins consist of 20 amino acids, and the order of these depends on the order of the DNA and RNA bases. Cytosine, adenine and guanine on RNA then protein adds the amino acid glutamine.

Question 19

What is an enzyme?

Answer 19

Biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body

Question 20

What is homozygous?

Answer 20

When identical pairs of genes on the 2 chromosomes for that gene. Both could be recessive or dominant

Question 21

What is heterozygous?

Answer 21

An unmatched pair of genes on the chromosome for that gene. One dominant, one recessive

Question 22

A dominant gene shows….

Answer 22

A strong effect in either homozygous or heterozygous conditions

Question 23

A recessive gene shows…..

Answer 23

It’s effects only in the homozygous condition

Question 24

What are sex-linked genes?

Answer 24

The genes on the sex chromosomes (X and Y)

Question 25

What are autosomal genes?

Answer 25

The genes on the non sex-linked chromosomes

Question 26

What are sex-limited genes

Answer 26

These genes are present in both of the sexes but it is activated hormones which cause it to be activated in one sex only

Question 27

What are mutations?

Answer 27

1. A heritable change in a DNA molecule. Just one base change will result in a different amino acid attaching at a point on the molecule. (New mutation is rarely advantageous)
2. A duplication or deletion.

Question 28

What does epicenetics study?

Answer 28

Deals with changes in gene expression without modification of the DNA sequence. Eg puberty. certain genes may be activated more at certain times or may be activated more in one twin than the other.

Question 29

What are monozygotic twins?

Answer 29

From one egg. They have the same genes.

Question 30

What are dizygotic twins?

Answer 30

From two eggs

Question 31

What is heritability?

Answer 31

Do variations depend on gene differences? Are the genes responsible?

Question 32

What is evolution?

Answer 32

A change over generations in the frequency of various genes in a population. Caused by mutations, Darwin’s theories.

Question 33

What is artificial selection?

Answer 33

Farmers choose individuals with a desired trait and make them the parents of the next generation.

Question 34

Explain Lamarckian evolution?

Answer 34

The use or disuse of some structure or behaviour cause an evolutionary increase or decrease in that feature. Eg if you exercise your arm muscles, your children will be born with bigger arm muscles. No evidence found.

Question 35

Explain fitness

Answer 35

The number of copies of one’s genes that endure in later generations. If you have many children you are evolutionarily fit. Genes that increase fitness at one time may be disadvantageous at another time.

Question 36

What is evolutionary psychology?

Answer 36

It concerns how behaviours evolved. The emphasis is on evolutionary and functional explanations. The assumption is that Any behaviour characteristics of a species arose through natural selection and presumably provided some advantage.

Question 37

What is altruistic behaviour?

Answer 37

An action that benefits someone other than the actor

Question 38

What is kin selection?

Answer 38

Selection of a gene that benefits the individual’s relatives.

Question 39

What is reciprocal altruism?

Answer 39

Individuals helps those who will return the favour?