Chapter 1 - Biological Approach Flashcards
Define dorsal view
From the top
Define ventral view
From the bottom
Explain the Physiological explanation
Relates a behaviour to the activity of the brain and other organs. It deals with the machinery of the body
Explain the onto genetic explanation
Defines how a structure or behaviour develops, including the influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions
Explain the evolutionary explanation
Reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behaviour. Acknowledges features left over from ancestors that no longer serve a function.
Explain the functional explanation
Describes why a structure or behaviour evolved as it did
What do biological psychologists study?
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
What is the hard problem?
Given this universe composed of matter and energy, why is there such a thing as consciousness?
What is the mind-brain problem (mind-body problem)?
Why and how did brain activity become conscious? What is the relationship between mental experience and brain activity?
What is a fundamental property?
It can not be reduced to something else
Biological explanations of behaviour fall into 4 categories. What are they?
Physiological, onto genetic, evolutionary, and functional
What are genes?
Units of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another.
What are chromosomes?
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.
What is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)?
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.
What is a ribonucleic acid (RNA)?
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
What are the 4 bases along the DNA?
Adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine
What are the 4 bases along the RNA?
Adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil
What are proteins?
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.
What is an enzyme?
Biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body
What is homozygous?
When identical pairs of genes on the 2 chromosomes for that gene. Both could be recessive or dominant
What is heterozygous?
An unmatched pair of genes on the chromosome for that gene. One dominant, one recessive
A dominant gene shows….
A strong effect in either homozygous or heterozygous conditions
A recessive gene shows…..
It’s effects only in the homozygous condition
What are sex-linked genes?
The genes on the sex chromosomes (X and Y)
What are autosomal genes?
The genes on the non sex-linked chromosomes
What are sex-limited genes
These genes are present in both of the sexes but it is activated hormones which cause it to be activated in one sex only
What are mutations?
- 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)
- A duplication or deletion.
What does epicenetics study?
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.
What are monozygotic twins?
From one egg. They have the same genes.
What are dizygotic twins?
From two eggs
What is heritability?
Do variations depend on gene differences? Are the genes responsible?
What is evolution?
A change over generations in the frequency of various genes in a population. Caused by mutations, Darwin’s theories.
What is artificial selection?
Farmers choose individuals with a desired trait and make them the parents of the next generation.
Explain Lamarckian evolution?
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.
Explain fitness
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.
What is evolutionary psychology?
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.
What is altruistic behaviour?
An action that benefits someone other than the actor
What is kin selection?
Selection of a gene that benefits the individual’s relatives.
What is reciprocal altruism?
Individuals helps those who will return the favour?
