chapter 2 Flashcards
Rene Descartes
French Philosopher
Argued that the universe is composed of two elements→
Physical matter which behaves according to the laws of nature and is thus a suitable object of scientific investigation
Human mind(soul,self or spirit) which lacks physical substance, controls human behavior, obeys no natural laws and is thus the appropriate purview of the Church
Dualism/Monism
Idea that the human brain and the mind are separate entities
many to this day believe this
Nature-nurture issue
The debate whether humans and other animals inherit their behavioral capacities(nature) or acquire them through learning(nurture)
asomatognosia
a deficiency in the awareness of parts of one’s own body
typically involves the left side of the body and usually results from damage to the right parietal lobe
Charles Darwin
Presented three kinds of evidence to support his assertion that species evolve
- documented the evolution of fossil records
- described structural similarities among live species
- point to major changes that had been brought about in domestic plants and animals by programs of selective breeding
-Most convincing evidence of evolution comes from direct observations of rapid evolution in progress for example the finches of Galapagos Islands
On the Origin of Species
Darwin described his theory of evolution
Single most influential theory in the biological sciences
Evolve
Undergo gradual orderly change
Natural Selection
Members of each species vary greatly in their structure,physiology and behavior and that the heritable traits associated with high rates of survival and reproduction are most likely ones to be passed onto future generations
Fitness
the ability of an organism to survive and contribute its genes to the next generation
Species
Group of organisms reproductively isolated from other organisms; that is, the members of a species can produce fertile off- spring only by mating with members of the same species
Brain Stem
Regulates reflex activities that are critical for survival
Heart rate, respiration and blood glucose level
cerebrum
Involved in more complex adaptive processes such as learning, perception and motivation
The brain has increased in size during evolution
convolutions
Folds on the cerebral surface
folds on the cerebral surface - has greatly increased the surface area of the cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of the cerebral tissue
Polygyny
an arrangement in which one male forms mating bonds with more than one female
Polyandry
A mating arrangement in which one female forms mating bonds with more than one male
Does not occur in mammals
It only occurs in species in which the contributions of the males to reproduction are greater than those of the females
Monogamy
Mate-bonding pattern in which enduring bonds are formed between one male and one female
Is thought to have evolved in those mammalian species in which each female could raise more young, or more fit young, if she had undivided help
Phenotype
Organism’s observable traits
Genotype
Traits that it can pass on to its offspring through its genetic material are referred to as its genotype
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Each strand is a sequence of nucleotide bases attached to a chain of phosphate and deoxyribose; there are four nucleotide bases → adenine,thymine,guanine and cytosine
Proteins and amino acids
Proteins are long chains of amino acids; they control the physiological activities of cells and are important components of cellular structure
Gene expression
The control of gene expression by enhances is an important process because it determines how a cell will develop and how it will function once it reaches maturity
transcription (copying)
translation(protein synthesis)
Transcription factors
Proteins that bind to DNA and influence the extent to which genes are expressed are called transcription factors
Many transcription factors that control enhancers are influenced by signals received by the call from its environment
Epigenetics
The study of all mechanisms of inheritance other than the genetic code and its expression
Alter gene expression without altering the code
DNA Methylation
The reaction that occurs when a methyl group attached to a DNA molecule, usually at cytosine sites in mammals
Adding CH3 to Cytosine
Histone Remodeling
Is the reaction that occurs when histones, proteins around which DNA is coiled, change their shape and in so doing influence the shape of the adjacent DNA- there are several different mechanisms by which this can occur
could happen in one events or multiple events
can either decrease or increase expression
Histones
Proteins around which DNA is coiled
Transgenerational epigenetics
Is a subfield of epigenetics that examines the transmission of experiences via epigenetic mechanisms across generations
There is some suggestive evidence that inheritance via transgenerational epigenetic mechanisms can also occur in humans
