Chapter 4: Genetics and Evolution

Question 1

Nature

Answer 1

the effect of our genes on our psychological traits and behaviour

Question 2

nurture

Answer 2

The effect of experience (or the environment) on our
psychological traits & behaviours

Question 3

genes

Answer 3

build, maintain and modify the physical structure of the body

Question 4

DNA

Answer 4

the molecule that stores genetic and heredity information

Question 5

chromosomes

Answer 5

containing DNA are situated in the nucleus

Question 6

chromosome number

Answer 6

in human there is 46 chromosomes; 23 from dad, 23 from mom including x and y sex chromosomes

Question 7

coding genes

Answer 7

contain the instructions to make proteins

Question 8

proteins

Answer 8

used to build and maintain our bodies

Question 9

genome

Answer 9

an organism’s entire collection of genes

Question 10

effect of genes

Answer 10

a gene only affects an organism if its turned on by environment or by other genes

Question 11

genotype

Answer 11

the set of genes that an individual inherits

Question 12

phenotype

Answer 12

observable properties of the body and behavioural traits

Question 13

heredity

Answer 13

the passing of traits to offspring from its parents or ancestors

Question 14

alleles

Answer 14

Different genes that occupy the same locus, and pair with each other

Question 15

Homozygous

Answer 15

The individual when two genes at the same location on a pair of chromosomes are the same at the locus

Question 16

Heterozygous

Answer 16

The individual when the two genes are not the same at the locus

Question 17

dominant allele

Answer 17

produces its observable effects in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition

Question 18

recessive allele

Answer 18

produces its observable effects in the homozygous condition

Question 19

Mendelian Pattern of Heredity

Answer 19

proposed that inherited information (genes)
comes in pairs (one from each parent), and that one can
be dominant over the other

Question 20

polygenic characteristics

Answer 20

characteristics like height or skin color that are influenced by two or more genes.

Question 21

epigenetics

Answer 21

gene-regulating activity that doesn’t involve changes to the DNA code and that can persist through one or more generations

Question 22

selective breeding

Answer 22

Modifying a specific behaviour or characteristic by mating individuals with or without the specific characteristics

Question 23

mutations

Answer 23

errors that occasionally and unpredictably occur during DNA replication

Question 24

ultimate explanations

Answer 24

concerned with why a behavior exists

Question 25

proximate explanations

Answer 25

concerned with how a behaviour works

Question 26

species-typical behaviours

Answer 26

Every species of animal has certain characteristic
ways of behaving and Individuals are biological prepared for certain behaviours

Question 27

homologies

Answer 27

similarities due to common ancestry

Question 28

analogies

Answer 28

similarities due to similar organisms

Question 29

polygyny, polyandry

Answer 29

one male multiple females, one female multiple males

Question 30

monogamy, promiscuity

Answer 30

one male one female, multi mating partners within a group

Question 31

parental investment

Answer 31

Time, energy, and risk to survival involved in producing, feeding, and caring for offspring

Question 32

cooperation

Answer 32

helping others while helping yourself

Question 33

altruism

Answer 33

helping others at a net cost to yourself

Question 34

kin selection

Answer 34

a type of natural selection where individuals will sacrifice their own lives in an effort to save closely related organisms

Question 35

reciprocity

Answer 35

a respond to a positive action or favor with another positive action or favor

Question 36

naturalistic fallacy

Answer 36

Equates what is natural with what is right

Question 37

deterministic fallacy

Answer 37

the belief that genes control behaviour in ways that cannot be altered by environmental experiences or conscious decision