nature, nuture, and behavior Flashcards
chromosomes
how our genetic organization is organized in 20 pairs (10 from mom and 10 from dad)
range of reaction
environment determines where you fall in this scale, ex. how much height is genetics?
heritability
chances of a trait to be passed down by generation
recessive
only expressed if you get two copies of that gene (ex. light colored eyes)
dominant
expressed with only one copy (ex. dark colored eyes)
Charles Darwin idea
His idea was that forces selected for and against various traits that varied within a population.
three ideas of natural selection
variability in characteristics, characteristics must be inherited, fitness
Variability in a characteristic
allows for some to survive when the environment changes since they differ from each other
fitness
allowing the environment change while adjusting to it/being more successful in the ever-changing environment (not linear), peppered moths blending in their environment from predators
precocious species
to have lots of offspring so chances are some will survive and reproduce, come with biologically built-in behaviors so parents don’t have to invest a lot in them (ex. reptiles)
Altricial/Dependent species
relatively few offspring, come with few (but not none) wired behaviors, high parental investment (ex. humans)
Ethology
branch of biology that studies animal behavior under natural conditions
Species specific behaviors
behaviors that characterize a species, biologically driven, doesn’t have to be unique to that species (ex. humans walking upright)
Sign stimuli/releasing mechanisms
some type of sensory stimulation that trigger a fixed action path (ex. wire touching palm)
Fixed action patterns
triggered by sign stimuli/releasing mechanisms (ex. touch on palm causing baby to grab)
