Exam 1 Flashcards
evolution
The change in the genetic makeup of living populations over time
heritable
Passed down from parent to offspring
natural selection
The survival and reproduction of those individuals that are best adapted to their environment
genes
A stretch of DNA that is transcribed as a functional unit; a unit of inheritance
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The linear molecule that forms the chemical basis of genes in all species except some viruses
chromosomes
A rod-shaped nuclear organelle composed of DNA and associated proteins
genome
An organisms entire complement of DNA, including all its genes. IN some viruses, such as HIV, the genome is composed of RNA
conjugation
Contact between two bacteria accompanied by the transfer of a short stretch of DNA from one to the other
eukaryotes
Organism whose cells contain nuclei
mitosis
Cell division in which the chromosome number is preserved
asexual reproduction
Reproduction in which all the offspring’s genes are inherited from a single parent
sexual reproduction
Reproduction in which the offspring inherit genes from two parents
gamete
A germ cell (ovum or sperm) that fuses with another to form a new organism
haploid
Possessing half the usual complement of chromosomes
diploid
Possessing the full complement of chromosomes
meiosis
A pair of cell divisions that produces haploid gametes
gonad
An organ that produces gametes (a testis in males, an ovary in females)
adaptive
Helping the propagation of an organism’s genes
pathenogenesis
Asexual reproduction from an unfertilized ovum; “virgin birth”
mutation
A change in an organism’s genome
Red Queen hypothesis
The idea that sexual reproduction is advantageous because it helps defend organisms against parasites
polymorphism
A common genetic variation between individuals in a species
investment
The commitment or expenditure of resources for a goal, such as reproductive success
ovum (pl. ova)
A mature female gamete, prior to or immediately after fertilization
sperm
A male gamete, produced in the testes
hermaphrodite
An organism that combines male and female reproductive functions
sex determination
The biological mechanism that determines whether an organism will develop as a male or a female
autosome
Any chromosome other than a sex chromosome
sex chromosome
Either of a pair of chromosomes (X or Y in mammals) that differ between the sexes
X chromosome
A sex chromosome that is present as 2 copies in females and 1 copy in males
Y chromosome
A sex chromosome that is only present in males
zygote
A cell formed by the fusion of gametes; a fertilized ovum
SRY (Sex-determining Region of the Y chromosome)
A gene located on the Y chromosome that causes the embryo to develop as a male
sexual selection
The evolution of traits under the pressure of competition for mates or of choice by mates
internal fertilization
Fertilization within the body
gestation
Bearing young in the uterus; pregnancy
lactation
The production of milk in the mammary glands
semen
The fluid, containing sperm and a variety of chemical compounds, that is discharged from the penis (ejaculated) at the male sexual climax
pheremone
A volatile compound that is released by one organism and that triggers a specific behavior in another member of the same species
fluctuating asymmetry
A difference between the left and right sides of the body that results from random perturbations of development
copulation
Sexual intercourse, or coitus
estrus
The restricted period within the ovarian cycle when females of some species are sexually receptive; “heat”
proceptive behavior
Behavior by females that may elicit sexual advances by males
monogamy
- Marriage limited to two persons. 2. A sexual relationship in which neither partner has sexual contact with a third party
pair bond
A durable sexual relationship between 2 individuals
polygamy
Marriage to, or (mostly in animals) mating with more than one partner
polygyny
Polygamy of one male with more than one female
polyandry
Polygamy of one female with more than one male
sexual monogamy
A sexually exclusive pair bond
social monogamy
A pair bond that is not sexually exclusive
promiscuity
Engaging in numerous casual or short-lived sexual relationships
paternity test
A test to identify an individual’s father by DNA analysis
mate guarding
A behavior in which a male animal prevents sexual contact between his mate and other males
kin selection
The theory that it can be advantageous, in evolutionary terms, to support the reproductive success of close relatives
inclusive fitness
The likelihood that an individuals’s genes will be represented in future generations, both in direct descendants and in the descendants of close relatives
vulva
The female external genitalia
clitoris
The erectile organ in females, whose external portion is located at the junction of the labia minora, just in front of the vestibule
scrotum
The sac behind the penis that contains the testicles
sexuality
The feelings behaviors, and identities associated with sex
sexiam
Prejudice or discrimination directed against one sex–usually women
anatomist
Researcher who studies the structure of the body
spermatozoon (pl. spermatozoa)
A male gamete, produced in the testis
ovum (pl. ova)
A mature female gamete, prior to or immediately after fertilization
homosexual
Sexually attracted to persons of one’s own sex
sex research
The scientific study of sex
sexology
The scientific study of sex, especially sexual dysfunctions
heterosexual
Sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex
anthropology
The study of cultural or biological variations across the human race
perversion
An obsolete term for atypical sexual desire or behavior, viewed as a mental disorder
neuroses
Mental disorders such as depression that, in Freudian theory, are coping strategies against repressed sexual conflicts
matrilineal
Tracing descent through the female line
feminism
The movement to secure equality for women; the study of social and psychological issues from women’s perspectives
socialization
The effect of social influences such as family, education, peer groups, and the media on the development of psychological or behavioral traits
gender
The collection of psychological traits that differ between males and females
transgender
Having a gender identity that is discordant with on’s anatomical sex
transexual (or transsexual)
A person who identifies with the other sex and who seeks to transition to the other sex by means of hormone treatment and sex reassignment surgery; can be M-to-F or F-to-M
sex hormones
Chemical messengers that influence sexual and reproductive processes
reproductive physiology
The study of fertility and pregnancy
microbiology
The study of microscopic organisms, esp those that cause disease
erectile dysfunction
A persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient to accomplish a desired sexual behavior such as coitus to orgasm; earlier known as impotence
neuroscience
The study of the nervous system
sexual orientation
The direction of a person’s sexual feelings toward persons of the same sex, the other sex, or both sexes
psychology
The study of mental processes and behavior
social psychology
The study of our relationship to others
control group
A group of subjects included in a study for comparison purposes
cognitivepsychology
The study of the information-processing systems of the mind
endocrinology
The study of glands and hormones
genetics
The study of the mechanisms of inheritance
psychobiology
The study of the biological base of mental processes and behavior
evolutionary biology
The study of the influence of evolution on mental processes or behavior
cultural psychology
The study of the interactions between culture and mental processes or behaviors
psychological anthropology
The study of the interaction of cultural and mental processes
partible paternity
The belief that two or more men may be fathers of the same child
clinical psychology
The assessment or treatment of mental or behavioral problems, as practiced by a psychologist
sex therapist
A person who treats sexual dysfunctions, usually by recommending behavioral changes and sexual exercises
marriage and family counselor
Therapist who assesses or treats interpersonal problems arising between spouses or other intimate partners
sociology
The scientific study of society
National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS)
A national survey of sexual behavior, relationships, and attitudes in the United States, conducted in the 1990s
National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NSSAL)
A British survey of sexual behavior, relationships, and attitudes conducted in the early 1990s
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB)
A national survey of sexual behavior in the US, based at Indiana University and published in 2010
General Social Survey (GSS)
A long-running periodic survey of the US population run by the National Opinion Research Center
script theory
The analysis of sexual and other behaviors as the enactment of socially instilled roles
ethnography
The study of a cultural group, often by means of extended individual fieldwork
celibate
Living under a vow not to marry or (by implication) to engage in sexual relations
fertilization
The entry of a sperm into an ovum, thus transforming the ovum into a genetically unique diploid organism capable of development (conceptus)
zygote
A cell formed by the fusion of gametes; a fertilized ovum
capacitation
A chemical change in the surface of a sperm within the female reproductive tract that allows it to swim more forcefully and respond to the presence of the ovum
bourgeonal
An aromatic aldehyde that attracts spermatozoa to the ocum
acrosome reaction
The opening of a sperm’s acrosome, releasing enzymes necessary for penetration of the zona pellucida of the ovum
zona pellucida
The capsule surrounding an ovum that must be penetrated by the fertilizing sperm
second polar body
A small body containing the chromosomes discarded during the second meiotic division of an ovum
pronucleus (pl. pronuclei)
A nucleus containing a haploid set of chromosomes derived from a sperm or ovum
conception
Fertilization of the ovum
conceptus
The developing organism from the 2-cell stage onward, including both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues
morula
The conceptus when it consists of about 16 to 32 cells arranged in a compact spherical mass
blastocyst
A conceptus shortly before implantation, when it takes the form of a sphere of cells with a central cavity
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
A gonadotropin secreted by the conceptus and by the placenta; it prevents regression of the corpus luteum
pregnancy
The state of carrying a living, implanted conceptus, embryo, or fetus
amnion
The membranous sac containing amniotic fluid and the fetus
amniotic fluid
The fluid within which the fetus develops
embryo
The portion of the conceptus that develops into the fetus. The term is used loosely to describe the entire conceptus from the 2-cell stage onward
ectoderm
The upper, outermost layer of the embryonic cells, which give rise to the skin and most of the nervous system
endoderm
The lower, innermost layer of embryonic cells, which give rise to the digestive system and lungs
mesoderm
The middle layer of embryonic cells, which gives rise to bone, muscle, connective tissue, and the cardiovascular system
placenta
A vascular organ, partly of fetal and partly of maternal origin, by which gases, nutrients, hormones, and waste products are exchanged between the fetus and its mother
umbilical cord
The vascular cord that runs from the umbilicus (navel) of the fetus to the placenta
embryonic stem cell
A cel found in the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, capable of developing into any type of cell
fetus
The developing organism between the time when the main anatomical structures of the body have been established (in humans, approximately 6 weeks after conception) and birth
SRY (Sex-determining Region of the Y-chromosome)
A gene located on the Y chromosome that causes the embryo to develop as male
genital reidges
Two clusters of cells in the embryo that give rise to the gonads
mesonephros
A transitory embryonic kidney that provides tissue to the gonads
yolk sac
A transient, early extraembryonic structure, the source of primordial germ cells
primordial germ cells
The cells that give rise to oocytes and to the progenitors of sperm
Wolffian dcut
One of two bilateral ducts in the embryo that give rise to the male reproductive tract
Müllerian duct
One of the two bilateral ducts in the embryo that give rise to the female reproductive tract
anti-Müllerian hormone (AMN)
A peptide hormone secreted by Sertoli cells of the testis that prevents the development of the female internal reproductive tract
pseudohermaphroditism
Outdated term for intersexed conditions involving structures other than the gonads
androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)
An intersexed condition caused by absent or nonfunctional androgen receptors
cloaca
The common exit of the gastrointestical and urogenital systems; in humans it is present only in embryonic life
urethral folds
Folds of ectodermal tissue in the embryo that give rise to the labia minora (in females) or the shaft of the penis (in males)
genital swelling
Regions of the genitalia in the embryo that give rise to the labia majora (in females) or the scrotum (in males)
genital tubercle
A midline swelling in front of the cloaca, which gives rise to the glans of the clitoris (in females) or penis (in males)
anal fold
The posterior portion of the urethral fold, which gives rise to the anus
raphe
The midline ridge of the perineum
urogenital sinu
The common opening of the urinary and genital systems in the embryo
congenital andrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
A congenital defect of hormonal metabolism in the adrenal gland, causing the gland to secrete excessive levels of anrogens
recessive trait
An inherited trait that shows itself only when the responsible gene is present on both homologous chromosomes
gubernaculum
Either of two bilateral fibrous bands that are involved in the descent of the gonads in the fetus
hypospadias
An abnormal location of the urethral meatus on the underside of the glans, the shaft of the penis, or elseware
micropenis
A penis shorter than about 2 cm (0.8 in) in stretched length at birth
cryptorchidism
Failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum by 3 months of postnatal age
medial preoptic area
A region of the hypothalamus involved in the regulation of sexual behaviors typically shown by males
third interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus (INAH3)
A sexually dimorphic cell group in the medial preoptic area of the human hypothalamus
sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA)
A group in the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus of rodents that is larger in males than in females
sensitive period
A period of development during which the survival or growth of a biological system depends on the presence of some factor, such as a hormone
mounting
A male-typical sexual behavior: climbing onto the female to reach a position in which intromission is possible (Used mostly for nonhuman animals)
lordosis
In female rodents, an inverse arching of the back that exposes the vulva for intromission by a male
activational effect
The influence of a sex hormone on the function of brain circuitry in adulthood
organizational effect
The influence of a sex hormone on the development of brain circuitry
diethylstilbestrol (DES)
A synthetic estrogen receptor agonist that was once used to precent miscarriage but that caused cancer and fertility problems in some of the daughters born of these pregnancies
puberty
The biological transition to sexual maturity
breast bud
The first stage of breast development at puberty
menarche
The onset of menstruation at puberty
masturbation
Sexual self-stimulation. Sometimes also used to refer to manual stimulation of another person’s genitalia
nocturnal emission
Ejaculation during sleep
gynecomastia
Enlargement of one or both breasts in a male
acne
A skin disorder caused by blockage and inflammation of sebaceous glands
sebaceous glands
Oil-secreting glands associated with hair follicles
primary amenorrhea
Failure to commence menstruation at puberty
secondary amenorrhea
Absence of menstruation in a woman who has previously menstruated normally
leptin
A hormone secreted by fat cells that may play a role in triggering puberty
kisspeptin
A hormone in the hypothalamus that is involved in the initiation of puberty
precocious puberty
Puberty that begins early enough to be considered a medical problem
idiopathic
Lacking an identifiable cause
delayed puberty
Falure off onset of puberty by some criterion age, usually 13 or 14 in girls and 14 in boys
