Chapter 3 The Evolving Mind: Nature and Nurture Intertwined

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

A change because of natural selection

Question 2

Alleles

Answer 2

One of several versions of a gene, as in having an A, B, or O blood type allele

Question 3

Altruism

Answer 3

Behavior on behalf of another that fails to benefit or harms the individual performing it

Question 4

Behavioral Genetics

Answer 4

The scientific field that attempts to identify and understand links between genetics and behavior.

Question 5

Candidate Gene

Answer 5

A gene that has a greater impact on a trait of interest than other genes.

Question 6

Concordance Rates

Answer 6

The statistical probability that a trait in one person will be shared by another; usually discussed in relation to identical and fraternal twins.

Question 7

Dominant

Answer 7

A feature of an allele that determines a phenotype in either the homozygous or the heterozygous condition

Question 8

Epigenetic

Answer 8

The study of gene–environment interactions in the production of phenotypes.

Question 9

Evolution

Answer 9

Descent with modification from a common ancestor.

Question 10

Fitness

Answer 10

The ability of one genotype to reproduce more successfully relative to other genotypes.

Question 11

Gene Expression

Answer 11

The process in which genetic instructions are converted into a feature of a living cell

Question 12

Gene

Answer 12

A small segment of DNA located in a particular place on a chromosome

Question 13

Genetic Drift

Answer 13

Change in a population’s genes from one generation to the next because of chance or accident

Question 14

Genomewide Association Studies (GWAS)

Answer 14

A scan of complete sets of DNA from many participants, which is performed to look for variations associated with a particular phenotype, condition, or disease.

Question 15

Genotype

Answer 15

An individual’s profile of alleles

Question 16

Heritability

Answer 16

The statistical likelihood that variations observed in a population are because of genetics.

Question 17

Heterozygous

Answer 17

Having two different alleles for a gene.

Question 18

Homozygous

Answer 18

Having two of the same alleles for a gene.

Question 19

Migration

Answer 19

Movement to a new location

Question 20

Mutation

Answer 20

An error that occurs when DNA is replicated

Question 21

Natural Selection

Answer 21

The process by which survival and reproduction pressures act to change the frequency of alleles in subsequent generations.

Question 22

Nature

Answer 22

The contributions of heredity to our physical structure and behaviors.

Question 23

Nurture

Answer 23

The contributions of environmental factors and experience to our physical structure and behaviors.

Question 24

Phenotype

Answer 24

An observable characteristic

Question 25

Recessive

Answer 25

A feature of an allele that produces only a phenotype in the homozygous condition

Question 26

Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 26

Help that you provide for another person when you expect the person to return the favor in the future

Question 27

Relatedness

Answer 27

The probability that two people share the same allele from a common ancestor

Question 28

Sexual Selection

Answer 28

The development of traits that help an individual compete for mates.