wk2 heritability,reflexes & instincts

Question 1

define “reflex

Answer 1

Ä behaviour we cannot control.
Simple, automatic and nearly instantaneous to the stimuli. eg. Knee jerk.
controlled by autonomic nervous system.
usually necessary for immediate survival(or derived from that purpose)

Question 2

define ïnstinct”

Answer 2

more complex behaviour than a reflex.

innate. not learnt.

Question 3

define “philopatry”

Answer 3

the tendency of an animal to remain in its home area, or in migratory species, to return to it.

Question 4

What does comparative psychology compare?

Answer 4

Compares human and animal behaviours in the hope of better understanding ourselves

Question 5

define “mammalian diving reflex

Answer 5

“Newborns react to cold air or water passing over face by slowing heart rate and apnoea.

Question 6

What is “baby’s rooting reflex”?

Answer 6

something brushes baby’s cheek and it turns towards it and makes suckling motion.

Question 7

What is the sucking reflex?

Answer 7

Baby suckles when something touches roof of its mouth

Question 8

What is the “Palmar grasp reflex”?

Answer 8

baby grabs something that brushes its palm

Question 9

What is the “Moro Reflex”?

Answer 9

Baby feels as if it is dropping through space, stretches out its arms, pulls them back to their chest, and cries

Question 10

What is a theory?

Answer 10

An explanation of observations, and is consistent with all available observations.

Question 11

What is a law?

Answer 11

A description of how a system works.

Question 12

What is Ïndustrial melanism”?

Answer 12

Dark coloured arthropods (esp the Peppered Moth), became more frequent in the areas of high pollution.

Question 13

What is “selection pressure”?

Answer 13

An environment is biased towards one characteristic becoming more frequent.

Question 14

What are the general rules of the adaptive process of evolution?

Answer 14

1. organisms reproduce, therefore population tends to increase.
2. organisms inherit characteristics from their parents but there are some minor variations (eg.mutations).
3. the environment creates pressures which influences survival or not.
4. Better adapted organisms are more likely to survive.
5. There must be some variability in an inherited trait in order for it to be selected for or not.

Question 15

What is ärtificial selection”?

Answer 15

A selection process based on desired characteristics but not necessarily linked to survival.