Intro and Module 4.1

Question 1

Biological Psychology

Answer 1

The study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience

• Emphasis on the study of areas and sub-areas of the brain

Question 2

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) [Small]

Answer 2

“double helix” made up of chemicals (A,C,T,G). Smallest piece of your genetic makeup

Question 3

RNA [Big]

Answer 3

usually a single strand chemical, similar to DNA,

Function
to make proteins

Question 4

Genes

Answer 4

long strands of DNA

Question 5

Chromosome

Answer 5

long strands of genes

Question 6

What do these terms for chemical units mean?

Answer 6

These terms refer to the chemical units of heredity that generally maintain their structural identity across generations

Question 7

Every human cell has about how many genes across how many chromosomes?

Answer 7

Every human cel has about 25,000 genes spread across 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) (DNA evidence)

Question 8

Genotype expression

Answer 8

What are the genes that you have in your body (B=brown eyes[dominant]; b=blue [recessive]

Question 9

Phenotype expression

Answer 9

How your genes manifest

Question 10

homozygous

Answer 10

Having an identical pair of genes on a pair of chromosomes (BB or bb)

Question 11

heterozygous

Answer 11

Having an unmatched pair of genes on a pair of chromosomes (Bb)

Question 12

dominant gene

Answer 12

expressed in the homozygous or heterozygous condition (Bb or BB will be expressed as brown eyes)

Question 13

recessive gene

Answer 13

only expressed in the homozygous condition (bb is the only condition where blue eyes will be expressed)

Question 14

Prepare to do pundit squares for the test

Question 15

Sex-linked genes on X and Y chromosomes [info dump]

Answer 15

• Y is small and basically only carries the gene that causes maleness. X is larger and carries the gene for femaleness and other things
• male (XY) has only one X chromosome and will always express X-linked recessive genes (8% have red-green color blindness)
• female (XX) will express a recessive gene only if it occurs on both of her X chromosomes (1% hae color blindness)

Question 16

Things to know

Answer 16

An X linked expressive trait will expressive itself in a man if the mom gives it to him through her x chromosome

Question 17

Things to know

Answer 17

An X linked expressive trait is more common in men since they only need to get it from 1 parent. It’s less common in women since they need to get it from both parents

Question 18

Sources of genetic variation [placeholder]

Answer 18

.

Question 19

Crossing Over

Answer 19

When genes are close together on the same chromosome they are usually inherited together. Usually occurs during reproduction when a pair of chromosomes exchange parts with each other. HS from mom and hs from dad becomes Hs or hS for my kid.

Question 20

Recombination

Answer 20

Some genes from two parents combine to yield characteristics not found in either parent (mom = curly blond hair, dad = straight black hair baby = curly black or straight blond hair)

Question 21

Mutation

Answer 21

a rare, random change in a single gene, typically not good

Question 22

Heritability

Answer 22

• An estimate of how much of the variance in a acharacteristic is due to heredity
• if 0, heredity accounts fo rnone of the observed variatins in that characteristic (you sing better because you had training)
• If 1, heredity accounts for all of the variations in that characteristic (you sing better than I because you have better singing genes)
• If 0.5, both components contribute (you sing better than I because you have better genes for it and you’ve had better training)

Question 23

How is heritability determined?

Answer 23

• Compare similarities in monozygotic twins versus dizygotic twins… a stronger resemblance b/t mono than di indicates high heritability, equal resemblance b/t both types of twins indicate 0 heritability
• compare adopted children with their biological and adoptive parents
• findings support high heritability in many areas but we may underestimate the ffect of omviornment and interaction between geneotype and enviornment

Question 24

Concordance Rate

Answer 24

• How often do the twins match each other in a specific trait
• Fraternal twins [Dizygotic twins] (not genetically identical)
• Identical Twins (monozygotic twins)

Question 25

Multiplier Effect

Answer 25

• You have a genetic predisposition toward something, and your environment builds on and multiplies that disposition.
• if genetic or prenatal influences produce even a small amount of some characteristic, your early tendency will change the environment in a way that magnifies that tendency.

Question 26

Can heritability be modified?

Answer 26

• PKU, caused by genetic inability to metabolize phenylalanine, can be minimized with proper diet. In other words, heritable or genetic does not always mean unmodifiable

YES

Question 27

Evolution

Answer 27

• Change over generations in the frequencies of various genes in a population
• TYPICALLY happens in a way that “the strongest survive,” but it doesn’t HAVE to be that way!
• Change occurs through mutations, recombinations and any new genes that are successfully reproduced
• Genes can be altered during our lifetime!

Question 28

Artificial Selection

Answer 28

• limits reproduction to animals that possess a desired trait – what breeders do to get desired traits in animals.

Question 29

Misunderstandings about Evolution [placeholder]

Answer 29

.

Question 30

Lamarckian evolution

Answer 30

” is mistaken belief that we acquire characteristics through use and lose them through disuse.

• Because modern medicine keeps people alive and technological advances (irrigation) keeps societies alive, then “survival of the fittest” no longer applies and hasn’t human evolution stopped?
• no, reproduction, not survival is key

Does evolution mean improvement?

• maybe; your genes got you here but they may not be advantageous tomorrow

Does evolution act to benefit the individual or the species?

• neither; it acts to spread the genes

Question 31

Minimalists

Answer 31

• agree that some animal research is acceptable, but wish to minimize it (ok for cancer treatment, but not to develop a new cosmetic surgery procedure)

Question 32

Abolitionists

Answer 32

• want all research on animals to stop (animals are the same as humans, to do research on humans you must get informed consent, and animals can’t, so no research)

Question 33

Careers in Biological Psychology for Psychologists (PhDs) [Not being tested on]

Answer 33

Behavioral neuroscientist: investigates how functioning of the brain and other organisms affect behavior

Neuroscientist: studies anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology of the nervous system

Neuropsychologist (2 types: clinical, and cognitive): conducts behavioral tests to determine what brain damaged people can and cannot do

Psychophysiologist: measures heart rate, breathing rate brain waves, and other body processes that change as a function of people’s activities and information processing

Question 34

Careers in Biological Psychology for Physicians (MDs)

Answer 34

Neurologist: treats people with brain damage or diseases of the brain

Neurosurgeon: performs brain surgery

Psychiatrist: helps people with emotional distress or troublesome behaviors, sometimes using drugs or other medical procedures