Chapter 3: Genetics & Evolutionary Foundations of Behaviour Flashcards
Define genome.
The complete set of genetic material in an organism.
Define DNA.
The molecule that carries genetic information.
Define chromosome.
A structure made of DNA and proteins that contains genes.
Define gene.
A segment of DNA that codes for a protein or trait.
Define allele.
A variant form of a gene.
Distinguish between gene and allele.
A gene is a segment of DNA, while an allele is a specific variant of that gene.
What does it mean for an allele to be dominant?
A dominant allele expresses its trait even in the presence of a different allele.
What does it mean for an allele to be recessive?
A recessive allele expresses its trait only when two copies are present.
Define genotype.
The genetic makeup of an organism.
Define phenotype.
The observable traits of an organism.
Distinguish between genotype and phenotype.
Genotype refers to genetic makeup, while phenotype refers to observable traits.
What is homozygous genotype?
A genotype with two identical alleles for a trait.
What is heterozygous genotype?
A genotype with two different alleles for a trait.
How do genes affect behaviour?
Genes can influence the development of traits that affect behaviour.
Explain the interaction between genes and environment.
Genes and environment interact to shape behaviour and traits through complex processes.
What is a candidate gene study?
A research approach that focuses on specific genes believed to be associated with a trait.
What are the limitations of candidate gene studies?
They may overlook other genes and environmental factors that contribute to traits.
What does it mean to knock down or knock out a gene?
To reduce or eliminate the expression of a gene to study its function.
How does knocking down or knocking out a gene help us understand its effects?
It allows researchers to observe changes in behaviour or traits resulting from the absence of the gene.
What are genome-wide association studies?
Studies that look for associations between genetic variants and traits across the entire genome.
What are the limitations of genome-wide association studies?
They may not establish causation and can be influenced by population structure.
Describe the diathesis-stress model.
A model that explains how predisposition and stress can lead to psychological disorders.
Describe the differential susceptibility model.
A model suggesting that some individuals are more sensitive to both positive and negative environmental influences.
Define gene expression.
The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product.
What factors can influence gene expression?
Environmental factors, epigenetic changes, and regulatory mechanisms can influence gene expression.
What is epigenetic change?
A heritable change in gene expression that does not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.
Provide an example of epigenetic change.
DNA methylation is an example of an epigenetic change.
Summarize research on epigenetic changes in maternal care in rats.
Research shows that variations in maternal care can lead to epigenetic changes affecting offspring behaviour.
Define behavioural genetics.
The study of the role of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour.
Define heritability.
A statistic that estimates the proportion of variation in a trait attributable to genetic factors.
How can heritability estimates be interpreted?
Higher heritability indicates a greater genetic contribution to trait variation.
How can twin studies help study heritability?
They compare similarities between identical and fraternal twins to estimate genetic influence.
What are the limitations of twin studies?
They may not account for shared environmental factors and can be influenced by the representativeness of the sample.
Distinguish between artificial selection and natural selection.
Artificial selection is human-directed breeding, while natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce.
What are the three components that contribute to evolution by natural selection?
Variation, competition, and differential survival and reproduction.
Define adaptation.
A trait that enhances an organism’s fitness in its environment.
Define differential fitness.
The varying ability of individuals to survive and reproduce based on their traits.
What is functionalism?
A perspective in psychology that emphasizes the purpose of mental processes and behaviour.
Distinguish between distal and proximate explanations of behaviour.
Distal explanations focus on evolutionary history, while proximate explanations focus on immediate causes.
What is the need to belong?
The intrinsic motivation to form and maintain strong interpersonal relationships.
Why did the need to belong emerge?
It likely evolved to enhance survival through social cooperation and support.
