Intro and Module 4.1 Flashcards
Biological Psychology
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
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) [Small]
“double helix” made up of chemicals (A,C,T,G). Smallest piece of your genetic makeup
RNA [Big]
usually a single strand chemical, similar to DNA,
Function
to make proteins
Genes
long strands of DNA
Chromosome
long strands of genes
What do these terms for chemical units mean?
These terms refer to the chemical units of heredity that generally maintain their structural identity across generations
Every human cell has about how many genes across how many chromosomes?
Every human cel has about 25,000 genes spread across 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) (DNA evidence)
Genotype expression
What are the genes that you have in your body (B=brown eyes[dominant]; b=blue [recessive]
Phenotype expression
How your genes manifest
homozygous
Having an identical pair of genes on a pair of chromosomes (BB or bb)
heterozygous
Having an unmatched pair of genes on a pair of chromosomes (Bb)
dominant gene
expressed in the homozygous or heterozygous condition (Bb or BB will be expressed as brown eyes)
recessive gene
only expressed in the homozygous condition (bb is the only condition where blue eyes will be expressed)
Prepare to do pundit squares for the test
Sex-linked genes on X and Y chromosomes [info dump]
- 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)
Things to know
An X linked expressive trait will expressive itself in a man if the mom gives it to him through her x chromosome
Things to know
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
Sources of genetic variation [placeholder]
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Crossing Over
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.
Recombination
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)
Mutation
a rare, random change in a single gene, typically not good
Heritability
- 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)
How is heritability determined?
- 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
Concordance Rate
- How often do the twins match each other in a specific trait
- Fraternal twins [Dizygotic twins] (not genetically identical)
- Identical Twins (monozygotic twins)
Multiplier Effect
- 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.
Can heritability be modified?
- 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
Evolution
- 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!
Artificial Selection
- limits reproduction to animals that possess a desired trait – what breeders do to get desired traits in animals.
Misunderstandings about Evolution [placeholder]
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Lamarckian evolution
” 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
Minimalists
- 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)
Abolitionists
- 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)
Careers in Biological Psychology for Psychologists (PhDs) [Not being tested on]
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
Careers in Biological Psychology for Physicians (MDs)
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
