Developmental chapter 3 ( Genes, Environment, and Development) Flashcards
species heredity
Genetic features that members of a particular species have in common
it is a contributor to universal species traits and patterns of maturation
what are the 3 mains points of - Darwin’s evolutionary theory?
(1) there is genetic variation in species otherwise
↳ Otherwise there would have been no evolution
(2) some genes are more useful for environmental adaptation than others
(3) Useful genes that allow for better adaption have a higher chance of being transmitted to future generations.
what is natural selection?
Individuals who have more adaptable genes are more likely to survive and reproduce
“Evolution is all about the interaction between the genes and the environment”
evolutionary psychology
The application of evolutional theories in psychology in order to understand why humans think and act in a certain way
cultural evolution
the idea that the things people learn and share, can change and grow over time
(like knowledge, customs, technology, and behaviors)
chromosomes
a structure inside the cell that carries genes
what is meiosis?
A type of cell division resulting in 4 cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell
what is mitosis?
A type of cell division that results in two cells, each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent cell
How many chromosomes has a human cell?
EXCEPT for gametes, all human cells contain copies of the 46 chromosomes provided at conception
facts about DNA
-there are around 20.000-25.000 functional genes in the human DNA
- each gene provides instructions for the production of particular proteins (the building blocks
of all cells)
what is the aim of the Human Genome Project?
scientific research project with the goal of identifying, mapping and sequencing all the genes of the human genome
what is crossing over?
a swap of DNA between chromosomes to make sure everyone gets a unique mix of traits from their parents.
How is a baby’s sex determined?
22 chromosomes are similar in both males and females.
The 23rd pair of chromosomes are the sex chromosomes
males → XY
females → XX
Genotype
the genetic composition of an individual
Phenotype
Phenotype is how you look or how your body works because of your genes and your environment.
“genes and the environment combine to determine how a particular genotype is translated into a particular phenotype”
gene expression
Gene expression is when your body uses the instructions in your genes to make things happen (such as to grow hair)
sex-linked inheritance
mechanism of inheritance in which a characteristic is influenced by
single genes located on sex chromosomes
polygenic inheritance
mechanism of inheritance in which multiple gene pairs interact with environmental factors to influence a trait
mutation
change or mistake in the genetic instructions (genes) inside your body
copy number variations
phenomenon in which parts of the genome are repeated
chromosome abnormalities
conditions in which an individual has too few or too many
incomplete chromosomes because of errors in sperm or ova
formation
sex chromosome abnormalities
chromosome abnormality in which a child receives too
many or too few sex chromosomes
what is behavioral genetics?
study of how genetic variation affects psychological traits, including
cognitive abilities, personality, mental illness, and social attitudes
what is heritability?
measure how well differences in people’s genes account for differences in their traits
“the variability in a trait that is not associated to genetic differences is associated with environmental differences”
twin study
studies conducted on identical/fraternal twins, aiming to reveal the importance of environmental and genetic influences for traits, phenotypes, and disorders
adoption study
studies that check whether adopted children are more similar to their adoptive or biological parents
concordance rates
measure how likely it is for two people, like identical twins, to both have a certain trait or condition, like eye color or a disease.
shared environmental influences
experiences people living in the same environment share
nonshared environmental influences
experiences unique to the individual
5-HTTLPR gene
gene that affects stress reactivity by affecting levels of serotonin in the brain
gene-environment interaction
when both your genes (the instructions inside your body) and your environment (the world around you) work together to influence how you grow, develop, and behave.
diathesis-stress model
explains how people might develop mental health problems or other conditions by looking at two main things: their vulnerability (diathesis) and stress from life.
some “risk genes” are now turning out to make people not only susceptible to the damaging effects of stressful environments, but also allow them to benefit more than others from nurturing environments
Gene-environment correlations
Describes how your genes and your environment are connected, and how they can influence each other in different ways.
gene-environment correlations (interactions / correlations)
people with different genes react differently to their experiences
and people with different genes have different experiences
what are passive gene-environment correlations?
when parents pass on both genes and an environment that complements those genes to their children. The child’s environment is shaped by the parents, who provide both genetic material and create a setting that matches the child’s inherited traits, even though the child doesn’t actively choose or influence it.
what are evocative gene-environment correlations?
when , your genes influence your behavior, and that behavior makes people around you react in certain ways. These reactions create an environment that matches or reinforces your genetic traits.
implications of gene-environment correlations
studies designed to check for genetic explanations of
apparent environmental effects and establish whether
environment matters
genetically informed studies (and their approaches)
research studies designed to understand how both genes and the environment influence traits, behaviors, and conditions.
Approaches:
(1) checking if an environmental influence is as obvious in adoptive kids as in biological kids
(2) studying identical twins to see if developmental differences are systematically related to differences in their experiences
epigenesis
process by which nature and nurture, genes and environment, work together to produce development in unpredictable ways
epigenetic effects
ways in which environmental factors modify gene expression and thus the influence of genes on traits (particular genes in particular cells)
/
changes in how your genes work without changing the actual DNA sequence. These changes are caused by things in your environment or life experiences and can affect how genes are turned on or off.
epigenetic effects and differences between twins
- in infancy, genes of young twins share very similar patterns
- in contrast, the older, the more differently genes are expressed based on longer nonshared environmental experiences
epigenetic effects of nurturing and neglect
- kids of rat mothers that were nurturing in infancy turned out to be stress resistant adults
- neglecting rat mothers led their kids to be timid and easily stressed adults
epigenetic effects and obesity
(characteristics acquired through one’s lifetime can be inherited by their descendants)
↳ through social transmission (ex: behaviors), or through epigenetic inheritance
gene therapy
medical field which focuses on the genetic modification of cells to produce a therapeutic effect or the treatment of disease by repairing or reconstructing defective genetic material
