HPS111-T1-Topic 3-Biological Bases-2016

Question 1

Adaptations

Answer 1

Biological and behavioural changes that allow organisms to meet recurring environmental challenges to their survival, thereby increasing their reproductive ability.

Question 2

Adaptive significance

Answer 2

The manner in which a particular behaviour enhances an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction in its natural environment.

Question 3

Adoption study

Answer 3

A research method in behaviour genetics in which adopted people are compared on some characteristics with both their biological and adoptive parents in an attempt to determine the strength of the characteristic’s genetic component.

Question 4

Alleles

Answer 4

Alternate forms of genes that produce different characteristics.

Question 5

Behaviour Genetics

Answer 5

The scientific study of the role of genetic inheritance in behaviour.

Question 6

Biologically based mechanisms

Answer 6

Evolved biological structures that receive input from the environment, process the information and respond to it.

Question 7

Chromosome

Answer 7

Tightly coiled strands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein that contains the genes.

Question 8

Concordance

Answer 8

The likelihood that two people share a particular characteristic.

Question 9

Dominant

Answer 9

The particular characteristics that it controls will be displayed.

Question 10

Epigenetics

Answer 10

Changes in gene expression that are independent of the DNA itself and are caused instead by environmental factors.

Question 11

Evocative influence

Answer 11

The tendency of genetically influenced characteristics (e.g. agreeableness) to evoke a particular response from others.

Question 12

Evoked culture

Answer 12

The notion that cultures may themselves be the product of biological mechanisms that evolved to meet specific adaptational challenges.

Question 13

Evolution

Answer 13

A change over time in the frequency with which particular genes, and the characteristics they produce, occur within an interbreeding population.

Question 14

Family study

Answer 14

The study of people who are related to one another to determine whether degree of genetic similarity is related to-similarity on a particular trait.

Question 15

Fixed action pattern

Answer 15

An unlearned response that is automatically triggered by a simple (releaser) stimulus.

Question 16

Genes

Answer 16

The biological units of heredity, located on the chromosomes.

Question 17

Genotypes

Answer 17

The specific genetic makeup of the individual, which may or may not be expressed in the observable phenotype.

Question 18

Heritability coefficient

Answer 18

A numerical estimate of the percentage of group variability in a particular characteristic that can be attributed to genetic factors.

Question 19

Knock-in procedure

Answer 19

A genetic manipulation procedure in which the function of a gene is disabled so that the effects on behaviour or physical functions can be studied.

Question 20

Knockout procedure

Answer 20

A genetic manipulation procedure in which a new gene is inserted into an organism so that its effect on behaviour or physical functions can be studied.

Question 21

Mechanisms

Answer 21

That enable it to be born with an ability to process and respond to information which is essential for its development.

Question 22

Mutations

Answer 22

Random errors occurring during gene replication that can result in a new phenotype effect.

Question 23

Natural selection

Answer 23

The evolutionary process through which characteristics that increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction are preserved in the gene pool and thereby become more common in a species over time.

Question 24

Phonotype

Answer 24

The observable characteristics produced by one’s genetic endowment.

Question 25

Polygenic transmission

Answer 25

A number of genes working together to create a particular phenotypic characteristic.

Question 26

Reaction range

Answer 26

The genetically influenced limits within which environmental factors can exert their effects on an organism.

Question 27

Recessive gene

Answer 27

A gene whose influence on the phenotypic expression of a characteristic is masked by a dominant gene.

Question 28

Sexual strategies (parental investment) theory

Answer 28

Maintains that sex differences in mating strategies and mating preferences reflect inherited biological pre-dispositions that have been shaped in women and men over the course of evolution.

Question 29

Shared environment

Answer 29

The environmental conditions shared by a family or other social group over a period of time.

Question 30

Social structure theory

Answer 30

Maintains that men and women behave differently, such as expressing different mate preferences, because society directs them into different social and economic roles.

Question 31

Strategic pluralism

Answer 31

The notion that multiple - even contradictory - behavioural strategies (e.g. introversion and extroversion) might be adaptive in certain environments and would therefore be maintained through natural selection.

Question 32

Twin study

Answer 32

A research method in behaviour genetics in which identical (monzygotic) twins are compared on some characteristics; this method is particularly informative if the twins have been raised in different environments.

Question 33

Unshared environments

Answer 33

The unique experiences of each individual within a family - as apposed to the common experiences of the whole family.