psych unit 2 Flashcards
how many pairs of autosomes do we have
22
what pair of our chromosomes are sex chromosomes
23rd pair
what is the structure of our DNA
twisted double helix
what DNA bases pair together
A-T/T-A and G-C/C-G
how much DNA do we have in each cell
about 6 feet, it is tightly coiled and looped to form chromosomes
mitosis
DNA replicates itself, exact copy of cell
genes
segments of DNA that lie along the length of the chromosome, sequence of ACTG’s provides the genetic instructions
what do genes actually do
provide blueprint for synthesis of proteins and are indirectly involved in human behavior
examples of proteins
hemoglobin, antibody, collagen
epigenetics
the study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence
what are epigenetic changes
modifications to DNA that regulate whether genes are turned on or off, they do not change the sequence of ACTG’s
meiosis
process that creates genetic variation, creates sperm and egg, recombination and independent assortment
what makes each human genetically unique
meiosis
why do we need genetic variety
so that when the environment changes, some people survive and can reproduce, otherwise species would go extinct
how genetically unique are we
parent can produce over 8 million different genetic combinations in his or her gametes
who determines the sex of offspring
the father
what is the SRY
it is the sex determining region of the Y chromosome
fraternal twins (dizygotic)
two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm, no more similar than any normal siblings
if someone is 45 what stage are they currently in
adulthood
identical twins (monozygotic)
one egg and one sperm
behavioral genetics
studies the genetic and environmental contributions to behavior
what is myelination
formation of fatty sheath around the axons of brain cells
what can sex education during adolescence do
decrease the number of teenage pregnancies
stage of development that starts at birth and lasts between 18 and 24 months is called what
infancy
when a baby is just born what can they do?
mimic facial expressions, suck, and show the rooting reflex
according to John Bowlby, babies are born with behaviors such as crying, smiling, and cooing in order to do what
keep the primary caregiver close to them
what is the cephalocaudal rule
motor skills develop from the head to the feet
what is the proximodistal rule
babies learn to control body parts closest to their trunk before moving to the periphery
what does developmental psychology focus on
continuity and changes across the human lifespan
what would a newborn infant be most attentive to
faces
what is a cultural tool that exerts influence on cognitive development
language
a developmental disorder that stems from heavy alcohol use during pregnancy is called what
fetal alcohol syndrome
according to Jean Piaget, __ are theories about the way the world works
schemas
teratogens
outside agents that can potentially harm the developing organism, each organ system is most vulnerable to disruption when it is developing most rapidly
fetal period
lasts about 7 months, long “finishing” period, least developed at birth is nervous system-most development of nervous system happens after birth
important support structures
umbilicus, amnion, placenta
embryonic period
(2-8 weeks) support structures formed early and all major organ system laid down in at least rudimentary form
3 germinal periods
endoderm layer, mesoderm layer, ectoderm layer
endoderm layer
digestive system, liver, pancreas, lungs
mesoderm layer
circulatory system, skeletal system, muscular system
ectoderm layer
hair, nails, skin, nervous system
prenatal development
single most dramatic period in the lifespan, effects of environment begin here, not at birth
non normative life events
events that make you unique, loss of parent at young age, car accident, winning the lottery, tend to have a cumulative impact over the course of the lifespan
normative history graded influences
affect most people born at a particular point in time (birth cohort) 9/11, great depression, covid
normative age graded influences
most people at a certain age experience this, retirement, getting a drivers license, starting to walk
learning
more or less permanent modification in behavior or thought that results from experience in the environment
maturation
sequence of changes related to genes and the neuro-maturational process that genes direct, aging, puberty, menopause
growth
change that occurs via metabolic process from within the body, physical growth, hight/weight
what is development
the orderly and systematic changes and continuities that occur over the lifespan
what are the domains of development
physical, cognitive, socioemotional. domains are constantly interacting with each other- we are one integrated whole
if the heritability of weight in a certain population is .50, it would be most accurate to say what?
that genetic variation explains about half of the differences in weight we observe among people
trait
feature or characteristic of the organism
alleles
alternate forms of a gene
phenotype
what is actually observed
genotype
set of genes/alleles for a trait
Adoption designs (family studies)
looking at similarities among adopted kids and their biological vs adoptive parents
combination twin/adoption designs
comparing twins reared together vs twins reared apart
heritability
statistic that describes the amount of variation in a trait that can be accepted for by genetic variation among individuals
