hereditary, brain and prenatal development

Question 1

genotype

Answer 1

all genes inherited from parents

Question 2

phenotype

Answer 2

observable expression of the genotype, including body characteristics and behavior

Question 3

environment

Answer 3

every aspect of an individual’s surroundings other than genes

Question 4

zygote

Answer 4

sperm and ova (each with 23 chromosomes)

Question 5

alleles

Answer 5

• two alleles from for every gene
• homozygous: same allele for a particular gene
• heterozygous: two different alleles

Question 6

polygenic

Answer 6

multiple genes responsible for certain things, like for being tall
- effect of any particular gene or set of genes is probabilistic (you now how tall you will be by looking at only one gene)

Question 7

genes-environment interactions

Answer 7

genes and environment work together

Question 8

phenotypic plasticity

Answer 8

the degree to which the environmental factors affect a given trait
- ex: height (could have tall genes but are malnourished)

Question 9

canalization

Answer 9

certain characteristics that are restricted in their outcome despite whatever the environment
- ex: no matter what the language is, you are still going to learn it

Question 10

norm of reaction

Answer 10

range of possible phenotypes for a given genotype
- range of possible phenotypes based on the environment
-ex: can inherit anxiety from parents but there will be a range

Question 11

epigenetics

Answer 11

biological changes that determine how likely it is that genes are expressed
- study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work

Question 12

4 ways of interacting

Answer 12

1. environmental factors turn genes on/off
2. environmental factors alter magnitude of genetic effects on development
3. gene expression can affect how people respond to children (evocative)
4. genotype affects the types of environments the person seeks out (active)

Question 13

brain development

Answer 13

brain develops in a series of stages that occur in overlapping ways

Question 14

neurulations

Answer 14

formation of the neural tube
- 3 weeks after conception
- forms from the outer layer of embryo called the ectoderm that then zips up to forms a tube and the cells inside are in the CNS and the outside are in the peripheral

Question 15

neurogenesis

Answer 15

birth and migration of neurons
- as soon as neural tube starts to form there is proliferation of neurons through cell division

Question 16

synaptogenesis

Answer 16

creation of synapses
- overproduction: many more synapses are created than needed

Question 17

synapse pruning

Answer 17

experiences determine which synapses are active and the ones that are not will get pruned out
- timing of pruning occurs at different times in different parts of the brain

Question 18

myelination

Answer 18

formation of fatty covering on axons
- variability in timing across brain regions is why we develop certain skills at certain times
- frontal cortex myelination occur until early adulthood
- nutritional defiencencies can interfere

Question 19

developmental plasticity

Answer 19

the degree to which and the conditions under which, the brain development is open to modification by the environment

Question 20

developmental plasticity depends on

Answer 20

• timing
• dose
• duration

Question 21

experience-expectant plasticity

Answer 21

• brains adapt to ubiquitous sensory info
• because we have eyes, our brain expects to see things

Question 22

critical periods

Answer 22

narrow window of time where a particular experience must occur for development to proceed normally
ex: imprinting in chicks

Question 23

sensitive period

Answer 23

developmental stage during which the brain is most susceptible to experiences, but changes are still possible outside of this window
ex: babies born with cataracts who get their eyes fixed will still be able to see

Question 24

experience-dependant plasticity

Answer 24

changes in the brain due to a persons unique experiences
- learning how to play the guitar
- forming new synapses through lifespan

Question 25

germinal period

Answer 25

0-14 days
- from conception to implantation in uterine wall
- zygote travels towards uterus
- cleavage: zygote divides while traveling down fallopian tube to uterus
- blastocyst forms and plants in uterine wall

Question 26

embryonic period

Answer 26

• weeks 3 - 8
• formation of major organs
• neural tube forms (3 weeks)

Question 27

fetal period

Answer 27

• week 9 to birth
• organ system begins to function
• significant growth

Question 28

fetal period

Answer 28

• week 9 to birth
• organ system begins to function
• significant growth
• becomes more responsive and can show sleep cycles

Question 29

what happens to blastocyst in germinal period

Answer 29

inner layer become embryo and the outer layer becomes amniotic sac, placenta and umbilical chord

Question 30

cephalocaudal development

Answer 30

head becomes developed before lower parts

Question 31

proximo-distal

Answer 31

structure in mid body (trunk before arms and hands)

Question 32

fetal learning

Answer 32

• how the environment can affect developing fetus
• starts responding to sound at 6-7 months

Question 33

teratogens

Answer 33

• anything that can harm a developing embryo
• effects depend on timing of exposure, amount and length of exposure and genetic susceptibility

Question 34

other hazards

Answer 34

not necessarily teratogens
- malnutrition can result in low birth weight and cognitive deficits
- stress can stunt growth and make infants irritable
- prime age for childbearing is 16-25