Week 3 - Genetics

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

process of specific traits and behaviours developing over time because they are advantageous to our survival and chance at reproduction.

Question 2

natural selection

Answer 2

Reproductive success (as a consequence of differences in heritable attributes, we have inherited adaptive, psychological processes designed to ensure success in survival)

Question 3

Adaptations

Answer 3

evolved solutions to problems that historically contributed to reproductive success

Question 4

Survival adaptations

Answer 4

mechanisms that helped our ancestors handle the hostile forces of nature
(sweating/shivering to handle extreme temperatures, being naturally afraid of threats such as snakes or spiders, or seeking foods that are high in fats and sugars due to their longevity in periods of food shortages)

Question 5

Reproductive adaptations

Answer 5

mechanisms that help us compete for mates, described in Charles Darwin’s sexual selection theory.

Question 6

Intrasexual competition

Answer 6

members of the same sex compete to mate with a member of the opposite sex. occurs between members of the same sex

Question 7

Intersexual selection

Answer 7

mate preferences of one sex exert selection pressure on members of the opposite sex, display a certain trait or behaviour with the goal of attracting and mating with the opposite sex

Question 8

Gene Selection Theory

Answer 8

Genes that are better able to encourage reproduction replicate in offspring, can boost their replicative success by either:
Influencing the odds of survival and reproduction
or
Influencing cooperation with others who likely contain similar genes, known as ‘genetic relatives’

Question 9

physiological adaptations

Answer 9

occur in the body as consequences of one’s environment, such as our skin making calluses

Question 10

Psychological adaptations

Answer 10

occur in the mind, such as sexual jealousy.

Question 11

evolutionary psychology

Answer 11

fundamentally interactionist (takes into account multiple factors when determining the outcome)

Question 12

Sexual Strategies Theory

Answer 12

humans have evolved a list of different mating strategies that are dependent on culture, social context, parental influence and personal mate value (desirability)

Question 13

Error Management Theory

Answer 13

weighing the cost in errors in judgement regarding potentially dangerous situations, leading to adaptive biases in the way we make judgement. (visual descent illusion, in which we will exaggerate the distance when looking down from a height, and sexual overperception bias, where men will often perceive actions as sexual due to a wariness in missing out on potential mates)

Question 14

Structure of genome

Answer 14

DNA wraps around histones (groups of 8 proteins). This combination is called a nucleosome, which are the repeating units of structures known as chromatin

Question 15

epigenetics

Answer 15

study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence (include covalent DNA modifications and post-translational histone modifications)

Question 16

Phenotypes

Answer 16

pattern of expression of the genotype or the magnitude or extent to which it is observably expressed - an observable characteristic or trait.

Question 17

DNA methylation

Answer 17

occurs in the DNA via the methylation of cytosine, typically reducing the expression of the gene to which it is attached.

Question 18

Histone modifications

Answer 18

such as acetylation take away the positive charge of histones, causing DNA strands to somewhat unwind, DNA becomes more accessible to be transcribed and more greatly expressed

Question 19

Perceptual learning

Answer 19

aspects of our perception changes as a function of experience.

Question 20

Intentional learning

Answer 20

Any type of learning that occurs when motivated by intention (not always more effective)

Question 21

Incidental/implicit learning

Answer 21

acquire information without intent that we cannot easily express. Perceptual learning is a type of implicit learning.

Question 22

Implicit memory

Answer 22

long-term memory that does not require conscious thought to encode; it is made without intent (procedural memory; riding a bike)

Question 23

Explicit memory

Answer 23

knowledge or experiences that can be consciously remembered (memories of specific instances; one particular bike ride)

Question 24

Nonassociative learning

Answer 24

single repeated exposure leads to a change in behaviour.

Question 25

Habituation

Answer 25

response to a stimulus lessens with exposure (background noise such as clocks barely registering)

Question 26

Sensitization

Answer 26

response increases with exposure (fixating on an annoying laugh).

Question 27

Encoding

Answer 27

process of putting information to memory (intending to learn something is not enough to effectively encode; other activities allow for a greater level of encoding)

Question 28

Effective metacognition

Answer 28

accurately evaluate the progress of our learning and choose activities that enhance learning efficiently (paying greater attention to successes and failures and evaluating their causes)

Question 29

Metacognition

Answer 29

describes the knowledge and skills people have in monitoring and controlling their own learning and memory.

Question 30

Transfer-appropriate processing

Answer 30

memory improves when evaluations test the same type of knowledge as the original encoding activity (important to also think about the situations in which it will need to be accessed in the future)