Genetics and Evolution

Question 1

How many chromosomes does a normal somatic human cell have?

Answer 1

46 chromomes with 23 pairs

Question 2

What are some intracellular environemental cues that can affect gene expression?

Answer 2

1) Presence of other cells
2)Timing
3) Temperature
4)Stimulation
etc

Question 3

What is wrong with the nature/nurture argument?

Answer 3

Too simplistic view of things. Noth many things are simply the one or the other, in fact there is interaction between genetics and the environment (and experience). Genetics may shape experience but the environment also impacts gene expression

Question 4

Can we simply look at the genotype of an individual to determine everything about the individual?

Answer 4

NO because while phenotype (the capacies and traits) of an individual is defined firstly by genotype, it is not the only thing influencing the overt behvaiour and phenotype of the individual

Question 5

Dominant and recessive alleles

Answer 5

You know them man

Question 6

What is example of how a genotype may not necessarily give rise to a specific phenotype depending on a action?

Answer 6

The PKU mutant genotype is linked to problems in brain development because the body cannot produce an enzyme to break down phenylalanine. But if the person retricts their diet then they wont develop the phenotype of PKU

Question 7

Codominant

Answer 7

Both allels are seen in the phenotype

Question 8

Incomplete

Answer 8

Intermediate of the two different alleles

Question 9

An example of incomplete dominant gene in the textbook

Answer 9

Serotonin transporter gene. The amount of serotonin production is like this l/l -> l/s -> s/s

Question 10

What is polygenic inheritance?

Answer 10

Pattern of inheritance where many gene will influence a single trait EG bipolar and schizophrenia

Question 11

What are proximate causes?

Answer 11

The influences within an organism’s lifetime that led to the particular trait. Things like mechanism and the direct causes
As opposed to ultimate causes

Question 12

What are ultimate causes?

Answer 12

More evolutionary and questions on fitness in natural selection
The specific reasons why this particular trait has helped members of the species/population survive and reprodue

Question 13

What is the naturalistic fallacy?

Answer 13

The mistaken idea that anything natural must be good.
And relates to the mistaken thought that most recently evolved traits are more advanced or better traits

Evolution and natural selection is not about advancement but about adaptation so whatever is the prevailing trait is because it is most suited for the circumstance

Question 14

How does gene transmission confirm the unity of life?

Answer 14

Genes from one organism like the human can also be used to complete the development of mutant fly cells. GFP proteins from jellfish can also be inputted into monkey genes

Question 15

Why is the unity of life essential to pyschology?

Answer 15

We can understand more about humans by undertanding other animals and cells like model organisms. Conduct experiments that is not possible with the human’s complex system or simply be not ethical

Question 16

TRUE or FALSE flexibility in behaviour (the ability to learn) is also an adaptive trait for survival

Answer 16

TRUE natural selection would favor individuals that could shift their behavior in response to new circusmtance rather than stick to old skills adapted to the old setting

Question 17

What is an example of flexibility?

Answer 17

Niche construction
organisms can change their environments through their own behaviour
Would explain maybe how in humans they would more likely favor innovators and learners and teacher

Question 18

What is species specific communication

Answer 18

just one species

Question 19

What is species general

Answer 19

Pertaining to all members of a species

Question 20

What is an example of species general behvaiour in humans?

Answer 20

Smiling

Not learned but born with it

Question 21

Is smiling species specific

Answer 21

No

Question 22

Is smiling learnt behaviour

Answer 22

No and since it does not seem to have a history of learning and very present in different species, it suggests that there is a genetic component

Question 23

What is the evidence that smiling is not learnt and universal?

Answer 23

Blind individuals vs sighted individuals and isolated cultures and even evidence from different animals like monkeys

Question 24

what is the formula for heritability ration

Answer 24

phenotypic differences attributed to genetic variance/ total phenotypic variancec

Question 25

What is the scale of heritability ratio and what do the extremes mean

Answer 25

0 none of the phenotypic variance can be attributed to the genome and 1 means all genetic

Question 26

TRUE or FALSE Hertiability can tell us about the individual

Answer 26

FALSE

Heritability ratio only tells us about the population being studied (and not any other population)

Question 27

What is the most commonly mentioned heritability ratio for intelligence

Answer 27

0.6 but there is usually a range

Question 28

what is EEA

Answer 28

environment of evolutionary adaptiveness