Chapter 2

Question 1

define evolution

Answer 1

a gradual change over time in organic life from one for to another

Question 2

define natural selection

Answer 2

characteristics that increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction will be more likely to be preserved in the population, therefore becoming more common in the species over time

Question 3

define mutations

Answer 3

random events in gene reproduction during cell division

Question 4

define adaptations

Answer 4

physical or behavioural changes that allow organisms to meet recurring environmental challenges to their survival, thereby increasing their reproductive ability

Question 5

define genetics

Question 6

define biological inheritance

Answer 6

how traits / tendencies are transmitted from one generation to the next.

Question 7

define alleles

Answer 7

alternative forms of a gene that produce different characteristics.

Question 8

if an allele is dominant…

Answer 8

the characteristic that it controls will be displayed

Question 9

recessive characteristics are only displayed if…

Answer 9

the other parent also contributes a recessive allele

Question 9

define Genotype

Answer 9

the specific and complete genetic makeup of an individual

Question 10

define phenotype

Answer 10

the individuals over observable characteristics.

Question 10

Phenotype is produced via interaction between ?

Answer 10

the genotype and its environment

Question 10

The genotype determines how much the environment can??

Answer 10

influence an organism’s development and behaviour.

Question 10

define genes

Answer 10

functional segments of DNA that code for proteins

Question 11

define chromosomes

Answer 11

single or double-stranded and tightly coiled molecules of DNA and proteins

Question 12

define ethology

Answer 12

study of animal behaviour: focused on the evolutionary differences between species

Question 13

Inherited behavioural adaptations:

Answer 13

traits organisms are born with that help promote chances of survival / reproductive success.

Question 14

define fixed-action patterns

Answer 14

are unlearned behaviour automatically triggered by a particular stimulus.

Question 15

define degree of relatedness

Answer 15

number of genes we share with others by direct common descent

Question 16

define concordance / co-occurrence

Answer 16

a statistical expression of the probability that 2 individuals with shared genes will share a particular trait to the same degree

Question 17

define Shared environments

Answer 17

environments in which its members experience many common features

Question 18

define non-shared environments

Answer 18

experiences that are unique

Question 19

Adoption studies:

Answer 19

adopted people are compared to both their biological and adopted parents

Question 20

twin studies:

Answer 20

compare trait similarities in identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Question 21

define heritability

Answer 21

estimating genetic influence

Question 22

define reaction range

Answer 22

the range of possibilities that a genetic code allows – environment determines where the individual falls within these (genetic) boundaries

Question 23

define kin selection

Answer 23

evolutionary strategy in which behaviours are selected that favour the reproductive success of an organism’s relatives even if at cost to organism itself

Question 24

define evolutionary psychology

Answer 24

seeks to explain how evolution shaped modern human behaviour – interested in genetic commonalities among people

Question 25

define reciprocal altruism

Answer 25

behaviour in organism that reduces its fitness to survive/ reproduce while increasing another organism’s fitness

Question 26

define survival of the fittest

Answer 26

whereby fitness does not necessarily refer to the strongest/ fastest…