The Major Issues Flashcards
Biological Psychology
Study of the physiological, evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.
Genes
Units heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another
Chromosomes
Strands of genes
Dexyribonucleic acid (DNA)
double-stranded molecule that is part of the chromosomes
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
a single-stranded chemical
Enzymes
biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body
Homozygous
having two identical genes for given characterisitc
Heterozygous
having two unlike genes for a given trait
Dominant gene
gene that shows a strong effect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition
Recessive gene
one that shows effects only in the homozygous condition
Sex-Linked gene
gene on either the X or the Y chromosome
Autosomal genes
all chromosomes other than X or Y
Sex-limited genes
gene that exerts its effect primarily in one sex because of activation by androgens or estrogens, although members of both sexes may have the gene
Mutation
a heritable change in a DNA molecule
Epigenetics
A field that deals with changes in gene expression without modification of DNA sequence
Monozygotic twins
derived from one egg
Heritability
estimate of the degree to which variation in a characteristic depends on genetic variations in a given population
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
a genetic inability to metabolized the amino acid phenylalanine
Artificial Selection
a process of selecting plants/ animals for desired traits
Evolutionary Psychology
field that deals with how behaviors evolved
Altrusic Behavior
an action that benefits someone other than the actor
Kin Selection
selection for a gene that benefits the individual’s relatives
Reciprocal altruism
helping others who may be helpful in return
Dizygotic twins
Fraternal (non-identical) twins derived from two eggs
