Chapter 1.2

Question 1

Epigenetics

Answer 1

The study of changes in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence.

Example sentence: Epigenetics plays a role in determining which genes are turned on or off in response to environmental factors.

Question 2

Genotype

Answer 2

The genetic makeup of an organism; the set of genes it carries.

Example sentence: An individual’s genotype determines their inherited traits.

Question 3

Mendelian Genetics

Answer 3

The principles of heredity discovered by Gregor Mendel, involving the inheritance of traits determined by individual genes.

Example sentence: Mendelian genetics explains the inheritance of dominant and recessive traits.

Question 4

Natural Selection

Answer 4

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Example sentence: Natural selection drives evolutionary change by favoring traits that increase an organism’s fitness.

Question 5

Neoteny

Answer 5

The retention of juvenile features in the adult organism; important in human evolution.

Example sentence: Neoteny in humans is thought to be related to the evolution of larger brain size.

Question 6

Phenotype

Answer 6

The physical and physiological traits of an organism, which result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Example sentence: Phenotype can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Question 7

Species

Answer 7

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Example sentence: Lions and tigers are different species because they cannot produce fertile offspring.

Question 8

Species-Typical Behavior

Answer 8

Behaviors that are characteristic of a particular species.

Example sentence: Migration is a species-typical behavior observed in many bird species.

Question 9

Common Ancestor

Answer 9

The most recent individual from which all organisms in a group are directly descended.

Example sentence: The common ancestor of all primates lived millions of years ago.

Question 10

Culture

Answer 10

The social behavior, norms, and knowledge of a group of people, transmitted through learning.

Example sentence: Language is a key aspect of human culture.

Question 11

Dualism

Answer 11

The philosophical idea that the mind and body are distinct and separable entities.

Example sentence: Dualism has been a topic of debate in philosophy for centuries.

Question 12

Embodied Behavior

Answer 12

The concept that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body’s interactions with the world.

Example sentence: Embodied behavior theory emphasizes the role of the body in shaping cognition.

Question 13

Materialism

Answer 13

The doctrine that only material things (physical matter) are real, and everything can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.

Example sentence: Materialism rejects the existence of immaterial substances or entities.

Question 14

Meme

Answer 14

A unit of cultural information spread by imitation.

Example sentence: Internet memes often go viral and spread rapidly through social media.

Question 15

Mentalism

Answer 15

The belief that mental processes and consciousness are fundamental and cannot be explained by physical processes alone.

Example sentence: Mentalism emphasizes the importance of subjective experience in understanding the mind.

Question 16

Mind–Body Problem

Answer 16

The philosophical question of how the mind and body interact and influence each other.

Example sentence: The mind-body problem has puzzled philosophers and scientists for centuries.

Question 17

Psyche

Answer 17

The human mind, soul, or spirit.

Example sentence: In Greek mythology, Psyche was a mortal woman who became the wife of Eros, the god of love.

Question 18

Chordate

Answer 18

Animals possessing a notochord at some stage of development, including vertebrates.

Example sentence: Chordates are characterized by the presence of a notochord, which provides support for the body.

Question 19

Cladogram

Answer 19

A diagram depicting the evolutionary relationships between different species based on their shared characteristics.

Example sentence: Cladograms are used by scientists to illustrate the evolutionary history of organisms.

Question 20

Common Ancestor

Answer 20

The most recent ancestral form or species from which two different species evolved.

Example sentence: Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.

Question 21

Connectome

Answer 21

A comprehensive map of neural connections in the brain.

Example sentence: The connectome project aims to map all the connections between neurons in the human brain.

Question 22

Culture

Answer 22

The social behavior, norms, and knowledge of a group of people, transmitted through learning.

Example sentence: Cultural practices vary widely across different societies and regions.

Question 23

Segmentation

Answer 23

The division of an animal’s body into repetitive segments.

Example sentence: Segmentation is a common feature in many invertebrates, such as earthworms.

Question 24

Topographic

Answer 24

Relating to the arrangement or mapping of the physical features of an area.

Example sentence: Topographic maps show the elevation and terrain features of a specific region.