Chapter 4 Module Flashcards
Genes
The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes.
Small segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Human Genome
Shared genetic profile that distinguishes humans from other species, consisting at an individual level of all genetic material in an organism’s chromosomes.
Behaviour Geneticists
Study the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour.
Twin Studies
Studes of identitcal fs fraternal twins, seperate twins, and biological vs adoptive relatives.
Consider the effects of shared environment and shared genes.
Family environments ahve little effect on personality.
Temperament
A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.
Heritability
The proportion of vairation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes.
The heritabiliy of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
Molecular genetics
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
Molecular Behavior Genetics
The study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behaviour.
Epigenetics
The study of the molecular mechanisms by whcih environments can influence genetic expression (without a change in DNA)
Above or in addition to
Evolutionary Psychologists
The study of the evolution of behaviour and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
Natural Selection
The principle that inherited traits that better enable and organism to survive and reproduce are most likely to be passed on.
Mutations
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.
Social Scripts
A culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Cultural Norms
Understood rules that inform memvbers of a culture about accpeted and expected behaviours.
Individualist Cultures
Giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s idetntiy in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.
Collectivist Cultures
Giving priority to the goals of one’s group and defining one’s identity accordingly.
Polygenetic
Differing traits are influenced by many genes of small effect.
Identical (monozygotic) twins
Individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
Individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but shared a prenatal environment.
Genetic Relatives
Biological parents and siblings
Environmental Relatives
Adoptive parents and siblings
Heredity
The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.
Environment
Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.
