PSYD13 Delkurs 1 - Evolution, genes, environment and behaviour Flashcards
Evolution (biological)?
Gradual change over time in organic life from one form into another
Natural selection?
Characteristics that increase likelihood of survival and reproduction within a particular environment will be preserved in the population and therefore become more frequent over time
Canis lupis?
The common ancestor to all domestic dog breads, i.e. the gray wolf
Mutations?
Random events and accidents in gene reproduction during the division of cells
Why is genetic mutation necessary?
It helps biological variation, i.e. help create variation within a population’s physical and behavioural characteristics
What are mendelian genetics?
Mendelian genetics is the study of how traits are inherited from the parental genes to the offspring.
What are the mendelian laws?
- The law of dominance 2. The law of segregation 3. The law of independent assortment
The law of dominance?
The principle of dominant and recessive alleles.
The law of segregation?
During the formation gametes, the alleles of the parent are segregated, so that the offspring recieves one allele of a trait from each parent
The law of independent assortment?
Genes for different traits are passed independently of one another, allowing for various combinations in offspring.
Dominant gene?
The particular characteristic that it controls will be displayed
Recessive gene?
The characteristic will not show up unless the partner gene inherited from the other parent is also recessive
Allele?
Alternative forms of a gene that produce different characteristic (is dominant or recessive). Ex: I have a green allele from my mother and a blue allele from my father.
Homozygous?
Organisms that posses the same type of allele for a trait, either two dominant or two recessive
Heterozygous?
Organisms that posses different allele for a trait, one dominant and one recessive
Genotype?
The specific and complete genetics make-up of the individual
Fenotype?
The individual’s outward observable characteristics
What does it mean that a genotype isn’t living (compared to a fenotype which lives)
By itself, the genotype is just a set of instructions or potential traits. It is static, representing the blueprint for what an organism could become. It does not have life-like qualities, such as growth, metabolism, or reproduction.
What is Phenylketonuria (PKU)?
It is a recessive gene that makes an individual not being able to metabolise the essential amino acid phenylalanine. This leads to disabilities. Fortunately, a low-protein diet can solve this.
What is Huntington’s disease (HD)?
Huntington’s disease a degenerative disorder in which sufferer experiences personality changes along with decreasing mental, memory and movement functioning. Huntington’s is based on the inheritance of a dominant gene and usually “breaks out” in the middle ages.
What is Eugenics?
It reflects the great danger of misusing the knowledge of natural selection. One can talk about positive eugenics (encourages people with “good” genetics to have more children), and negativ eugenics (discourages people with “bad” genetics to have children). The worst example of eugenics is Nazi Germany.
Adaptions?
Physical or behavioural changes that allow organisms to meet recurring environmental challenges to their survival, thereby increasing their reproductive ability.
Genes?
Functional segments of the DNA, that code for proteins
Chromosome?
A single- or double-stranded structure comprising proteins and DNA
Somatic cell?
Is any cell forming the body of an organism; they do not contain reproductive cells, i.e. = all non-sex cells.
Diploid?
The number of chromosomes carried by a cell with two complete sets of chromosomes (on from each parent) is called the diploid number of chromosomes.
Gametetes?
Sex cells (eggs and sperm)
Haploid?
The number of chromosomes carried by a gamete cell, which is half the number of chromosomes carried in a typical cell, is called the haploid number of chromosomes
Zygote?
A fertilised egg containing 46 pairs of chromosomes
Nucleotides?
Nitrogenous base, phosphate and sugar groups.
How many pairs of chromosomes do every cell in the body (except red blood cells) carry?
23 pairs