Genetics and Evolution Flashcards
Nature
the effect of our genes on our psychological traits and behaviour
nurture
The effect of experience (or the environment) on our psychological traits & behaviours
genes
build, maintain and modify the physical structure of the body
DNA
the molecule that stores genetic and heredity information
chromosomes
containing DNA are situated in the nucleus
chromosome number
in human there is 46 chromosomes; 23 from dad, 23 from mom including x and y sex chromosomes
coding genes
contain the instructions to make proteins
proteins
used to build and maintain our bodies
genome
an organism’s entire collection of genes
effect of genes
a gene only affects an organism if its turned on by environment or by other genes
genotype
the set of genes that an individual inherits
phenotype
observable properties of the body and behavioural traits
heredity
the passing of traits to offspring from its parents or ancestors
alleles
Different genes that occupy the same locus, and pair with each other
Homozygous
The individual when two genes at the same location on a pair of chromosomes are the same at the locus
Heterozygous
The individual when the two genes are not the same at the locus
dominant allele
an allele that produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different.
recessive allele
does not produce a trait at all when only one copy is present
Mendelian Pattern of Heredity
proposed that inherited information (genes)
comes in pairs (one from each parent), and that one can be dominant over the other
polygenic characteristics
characteristics like height or skin color that are influenced by two or more genes.
epigenetics
gene-regulating activity that doesn’t involve changes to the DNA code and that can persist through one or more generations
selective breeding
choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics.
mutations
errors that occasionally and unpredictably occur during DNA replication
ultimate explanations
concerned with why a behavior exists