chapter 2 Biological beginnings

Question 1

evolutionary psychology

Answer 1

Emphasises the importance of adaption, reproduction and ‘survival of the fittest’ in shaping behaviour.

Question 2

chromosomes

Answer 2

Threadlike structures that come in 23 pairs, one member of each pair coming from each parent. Chromosomes are made up of the genetic substance DNA.

Question 3

DNA

Answer 3

A complex molecule that contains genetic information; DNA is organised into chromosomes.

Question 4

genes

Answer 4

Units of hereditary information formed by segments of DNA. Genes direct cells to reproduce themselves and manufacture the proteins that maintain life

Question 5

mitosis

Answer 5

Celluar reproduction in which the cells nucleus duplicates itself with two new cells being formed, each conatining the same DNA as the parent cell, arranged in the same 23 pairs of chromosomes

Question 6

meiosis

Answer 6

A specialised form of cell division that occurs to form ova and sperm ( or gametes)

Question 7

fertilisation

Answer 7

A stage in reproduction whereby an ovum and a sperm fuse to create a single cell, called a zygote

Question 8

zygote

Answer 8

A single cell formed through fertilisation

Question 9

genotype

Answer 9

A persons genetic heritage; the actual genetic material

Question 10

phenotype

Answer 10

The way an individuals genotype is expressed in observable and frequently measurable characteristics.

Question 11

sickle cell disease

Answer 11

A genetic disorder that affects the red blood cells and occurs most often in people of African decent

Question 12

Klinefelters syndrome

Answer 12

A chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra X chromosome, which becomes constricted and often breaks.

Question 13

fraglie X syndrome

Answer 13

A genetic disorder involving an abnormality in the X chromosome, which becomes constricted and often breaks

Question 14

Turners syndrome

Answer 14

A chromosome disorder in females in which either an X chromosome is missing, making the person XO instead of XX, or the second X chromosome is partially deleted

Question 15

XY syndrome

Answer 15

A chromeosomal disorder in which males have an extra Y chromosome

Question 16

phenylketonuria (PKU)

Answer 16

A genetic disorder in which an individual cannot properly metablolise an amino acid. PKU is now easily detected but, if left untreated, results in an itellectiual disability and hyperactivity.

Question 17

behaviour genetics

Answer 17

The filed that seeks to discover the influance of heredity and environment on individual difference in human traits and development

Question 18

twin study

Answer 18

A study in which the behavioural similarity of identical twins is compared with the behaviour similarity of fraternal twins

Question 19

adoption study

Answer 19

A study in which investorgators seek to discover whetgher, in behaviour and psychological characteristics, adopted children are more like their adoptive partents, who provided a home enviroment, or more like their biological parents, who contributed their heredity. Another form of the adoption study is to compare adoptive and biological siblings

Question 20

passive genotype-environment correlations

Answer 20

Correlations that exist when natural parents, who are genetically related to the child, provide a rearing environment for the child.

Question 21

evocative genotype-environmnet correlations

Answer 21

Correlations that exist when the chiklds genotype elictis certain types of physical and social environments

Question 22

active (niche-picking) genotype-environment correlations

Answer 22

Correlations that exist when children seek out environments they find compatible and stimulating

Question 23

Shared environmental experiences

Answer 23

Siblings common environmental experiences, such as their parents personalities and intellectual orientation, the family’s socioeconmoic status and the neighbourhood in which they live.

Question 24

non-shared environmental experiences

Answer 24

The childs own unique experiences, both within the family and outside of the family, that are not shared by another sibling. Thus, experiences occuring within the family can be a part of the non shared environment

Question 25

epigenetic view

Answer 25

Emphasises that development is the resuklt of an ongoing, bidirectional action between heredity and environment

Question 26

gene x environemnt (GxE) interaction

Answer 26

The interaction between a specific measured variation in the DNA and a specific measured aspect of the environment