Ch2 Evolution, Genetics and Experience Flashcards
(26 cards)
problems with thinking of biology of behaviour in dichotomies
physiological-psychological
-changes to psychological processes can actually happen from damage to brain
-other species demonstrating ‘human’ traits like problem solving
nature vs nurture
-argued that behaviour is impacted by both
Darwins theory of evolution
species evolve under natural selection, undergoing systemic changes from previous species
examples of the relationship of evolution and behaviour
social dominance (males fighting it out for leadership/mates - get to copulate more), dominant females get better resources for them/offspring
courtship displays - promote new species through reproductive isolation, reproductive barriers by behaviour (lock and key)
chordates to vertebrates
chordates - animals with dorsal nerve cords
vertebrates - spinal bones to protect dorsal nerve cords
-first were bony fish
apes are different from old world monkeys in that they
have no tails and can walk upright for short distances
hominins belong the the family of
primates
3 big human attributes
free hands with opposable thumbs
large brain
upright posture
exaptation
a trait, structure, or function that evolved for one purpose but is later used for a different, often unrelated, function
homologous vs analogous traits
common evolution: homologous
not common evolution: analogous
convergent evolution
what parts of the brain dinstinctly evolved separately
brain stem: activities for survival
cerebrum: adaptive processes
-most size increase in evolution of the brain is here
what has increased the SA of the cerebral cortex
the increase in convolutions
epigenetics
how the environment can alter gene expression, influencing behavior across generations.
study of all mechanisms of inheritance other than those mediated by changes in the gene sequence of DNA
on a chromosome, what is something that helps influence how a cell will develop/function
promoter region
how does translation work
mRNA attaches to ribosomes to form a polypeptide chain from tRNA bringing the corresponding peptides to the codons
why did the human genome project start
to make medical advances (even though it hasnt really achieved this)
environmental example that affects expression of genes
methyl groups (repressors) - if a gene is no longer repressed it could lead to cancer
histone remodelling
exercise/diet
it has been discovered that non-gene areas of DNA have a role in
controlling the expression of nearby genes
epitranscriptome refers to
dynamic and reversible chemical modifications of RNA transcripts (both coding and non-coding RNAs), which add a layer of regulation to gene expression and function beyond the DNA sequence itself
post-transcription modifications to RNA that dont affect the RNA base sequence
transgenerational epigenetics
examines transmission of epigenetics over generations
Phenylketonuria (PKU) demonstrate the importance of gene-environment interactions in shaping
behavior and health outcomes.
if P accumulates in body and causes intellectual damage
are MZ or DZ twins more similar
MZ more alike, genes have influence
why are MZ twins better for studying epigenetics
non MZ people, we cannot manipulate their genes but MZ skirt over this so we can examine their genetic material and any differences we see
the philosophical debate of psych and humans
argued humans are special in mind and soul - self awareness and complex higher thinking
debate countered by experiments with rats showing awareness
cross-modal brain plasticity
re-arrangement of the functional organization of the brain, ex. Sensory areas of the neocortex
blind: braille reading activates primary visual cortex
seeing: braille reading activates primary somatosensory cortex
