genetics

Question 1

What is behavioural genetics

Answer 1

how genes and the environment interact to influence behaviour, traits and brain functions

Question 2

What is epigenetics

Answer 2

the study of changes in gene expression and how the environment affects it

Question 3

What is behavioural genomics

Answer 3

how DNA and specific genes are related to behaviour

Question 4

Describe the nature vs. nurture debate and explain why it is difficult to study

Answer 4

“What causes our behaviour?”
Nature- genetics
Nurture- our environment and interactions with others
difficult to study because we don’t know how they influence each other

Question 5

Describe the procedure for adoption and twin studies

Answer 5

identical twins: one sperm and egg cell divide into 2 zygotes with identical chromosomes
vs
fraternal twins: 2 eggs and two sperm that result in 2 zygotes with different chromosomes

Question 6

Discuss why twin studies are done and what we can learn from them

Answer 6

compare the similarity between identical (monozygotic) twins and fraternal (dizygotic) twins
What if identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins

Question 7

Discuss the influence of heredity on genotype

Answer 7

50% genetic material from each parent
50% probability shared genes between siblings

Question 8

Define phenotype and genotype

Answer 8

genotype: genetics
phenotype: expression

Question 9

define dominant

Answer 9

if you have one copy of this version you will have this trait

Question 10

define recessive

Answer 10

you need both copies of this version to have the trait

Question 11

Define epigenetics

Answer 11

changed to the expression of genes but not the underlying genes themselves
example: identical twins who look more different as they age

Question 12

describe DNA methylation in epigenetics

Answer 12

changes that generally reduce the expression of a gene

Question 13

descrive histone modification in epigenetics

Answer 13

changes that can either increase or decrease expression of a gene

Question 14

Describe the role of childhood experiences, childhood nutrition in affecting gene expression

Answer 14

bond with parents influences stress response which can influence memory/attention/emotion
nutrition: famine in pregnancy increases risk of insulin resistance in offspring in adulthood

Question 15

Define heritability

Answer 15

how much of the variation in a particular trait is attributable to variation in genetics

Question 16

Describe the heritability coefficient

Answer 16

1.0= all of the variability
0.0= none of the variability

Question 17

discuss differences in heritability of different traits

Answer 17

height is the highest (0.80) and school achievement (0.40) is the lowest for estimates

Question 18

Define reaction range and describe how it affects phenotype

Answer 18

expressed characteristics of an organism depend both on genetic characteristics and the environment

Question 19

Define familial environmental and unique environmental factors and give examples

Answer 19

familial environment: same parents, same house etc
unique environment: friends, hobbies, sports etc

Question 20

Describe natural selection

Answer 20

ancestral populations characterized by phenotypic variation, heredity and differential fitness evolved adaptations that were crucial to individual reproduction and/or survival

Question 21

Distinguish between selection for survival and selection for reproductive ability

Answer 21

selection for survival: traits raise survival success
selection for reproduction: traits lower survival rare but increase reproductive (bright colours on birds)

Question 22

Describe sexual selection theory, including intra sexual competition and intersexual selection

Answer 22

some traits lower survival success, but increase reproductive success

Question 23

what is intrasexual competition

Answer 23

competitions between members of the same sex for the ability to mate
it reduces survival success, but traits of winner are passed down

Question 24

what is intersexual selection

Answer 24

choice of mate is influenced by various characteristics, which are then more likely to be passed down

Question 25

Describe how mate choice in humans differs from mate choice in many other animals

Answer 25

humans not able to consciously display physical changes to their body when ready to mate unlike most animals

Question 26

Discuss how natural selection applies to psychological traits and human behaviour

Answer 26

adaptations are hardwired into the human genome through natural selection

Question 27

Define adaptation, differentiate between broad and specific adaptations, and give examples of each kind

Answer 27

adaptation: the action or process of adapting
physiological: broad, general deal with environment
psychological: specific, solve specific problems

Question 28

Describe how psychologists determine whether a behaviour or trait is innate or learned

Answer 28

by seeing if it performed correctly by naive animals

Question 29

Describe the kinship selection explanations for altruistic behaviour

Answer 29

kinship selection: development of altruistic behaviour when the energy invested, or the risk incurred, by an individual is compensated in excess by the benefits ensuing to relatives.

Question 30

describe the reciprocal altruism and explanations

Answer 30

reciprocal: altruism that occurs between unrelated individuals when there will be repayment (or at least the promise of repayment) of the altruistic act in the future

Question 31

Describe common mistakes in thinking about evolution and human behaviour

Answer 31

inheriting knowledge/behaviours
purposeful and goal directed