endocrine madness

Question 1

Endocrine system

Answer 1

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Question 2

Hormones

Answer 2

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.

Question 3

adrenal glands

Answer 3

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

Question 4

pituitary gland

Answer 4

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Question 5

lesion

Answer 5

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

Question 6

electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 6

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Question 7

CT(computed tomography) scan

Answer 7

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure. (Also called CAT scan)

Question 8

PET (positron tomography) scan

Answer 8

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Question 9

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Answer 9

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer- generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

Question 10

fMRI (functional MRI)

Answer 10

a technique for revealing blood flow and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as it’s structure.

Question 11

behavior genetics

Answer 11

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Question 12

environment

Answer 12

every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

Question 13

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Answer 13

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Question 14

genes

Answer 14

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.

Question 15

genome

Answer 15

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.

Question 16

identical twins (monozygotic twins)

Answer 16

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Question 17

fraternal twins (dizygotic twins)

Answer 17

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment

Question 18

molecular genetics

Answer 18

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

Question 19

interaction

Answer 19

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

Question 20

epigenetics

Answer 20

the study of environmental influences on a gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

Question 21

evolutionary psychology

Answer 21

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Question 22

natural selection

Answer 22

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Question 23

mutation

Answer 23

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change