Chapter 4: Genes, Evolution and Behaviour

Question 1

What’s Behaviour

Answer 1

organism’s actions in response to some stimulus (either internal or external)

Question 2

What’s evolution

Answer 2

Change in heritable traits in a population over time

Question 3

What’s Natural Selection

Answer 3

Process by which evolution occurs i.e survival of the fittest

Question 4

What’s fitness

Answer 4

ability of individual to pass on its genes

Question 5

What are Genes

Answer 5

Basic unit of heredity, how traits are passed on from parent to offspring

Question 6

What’s DNA

Answer 6

Made up of nitrogenous bases: Adenine, Thymine (replaced with Uracil in RNA), Cytosine and Guanine

Question 7

Which nitrogenous bases pair with each other

Answer 7

Adenine pairs with Thymine (or Uracil with RNA), Cytosine pairs with Guanine

Question 8

What’s a Genome

Answer 8

Complete set of an organism’s genetic material. i.e, Human genome

Question 9

What’s a chromosome

Answer 9

Strands of DNA wound around each other, a pair of chromosomes have identical genetic makeup.

Question 10

How do genes determine behaviour?

Answer 10

DNA is transcripts into RNA. RNA is translated into Amino Acid Chain. Amino Acid Chain is folded into Proteins. Proteins determine gene expressions, in turn behaviour

Question 11

What are building blocks of life?

Answer 11

Amino Acids

Question 12

What’s a Genotype

Answer 12

Specific genetic makeup i.e, AA, Aa, aa.

Question 13

What’s a Phenotype

Answer 13

“Ph”ysical expression of genetic makeup

Question 14

How many chromosomes are in somatic cells?

Answer 14

46 chromosomes in 23 pairs, one copy from each parent

Question 15

Genetic Relatedness Percentages

Answer 15

50% to each biological parent and to each sibling

Question 16

What’s the genetic relatedness between twins?

Answer 16

Identical twins = 100%
Fraternal twins = 50%

Question 17

Monozygote

Answer 17

Monozygotes have one egg and one sperm, leads to identical twins.

Question 18

Dizygotes

Answer 18

Has 2 sperms and 2 eggs that lead to fraternal twins

Question 19

Dominance vs Recessive Alelles

Answer 19

Dominance is expressed with just 1 allele and recessive is expressed with a pair, i.e aa, or bb.

Question 20

What are alleles

Answer 20

2 alleles for each gene, one from each parent, pair of alleles could either be homozygous or heterozygous

Question 21

What’s Polygenic transmission

Answer 21

When many genes control 1 phenotypic trait, i.e, skin colour, height.

Question 22

What are Epigenetics

Answer 22

Lasting changes in gene function during development. The changes are caused by external elements.

Question 23

Recombinant DNA

Answer 23

Use enzymes to cut up pieces of DNA and combine with DNA from another organism. Then return combined DNA into host cell

Question 24

Gene Knockout

Answer 24

Alter a specific gene so it doesn’t function. Problem is that few behaviours are linked to single genes

Question 25

What are Behaviour Genetics

Answer 25

study of how genetic and environmental components lead to changes in behaviour.

Question 26

What's heredity

Answer 26

passage of characteristics from parents to offspring. single person to person

Question 27

What's Heritability

Answer 27

How much of the variation in a characteristic within a population can be attributed to genetic differences.

Question 28

Heritability Coefficient

Answer 28

A number from 0-1. Estimate of how much of a characteristic is due to genetic factors. 0 = genes did nothing, all environment. 1 = genes did everything, no environment.

Question 29

Concordance Rate

Answer 29

Rate of co-occurence of a characteristic among individuals. i.e, how often you see 2 people with trait X?

Question 30

Heredity of Intelligence

Answer 30

genes account for 50-70% of intelligence.

Question 31

Reaction Range

Answer 31

range of possibilities that genetic code allows Environmental effects determine where a person falls within the limits.

Question 32

What are the Big 5 personality traits

Answer 32

Openness, Conscientiousness (responsible, dependable), Extraversion (sociable), Agreeableness and Neuroticism (emotionally unstable)

Question 33

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 33

How behaviour and actions evolved in response to environmental demands Based on Theory of Evolution

Question 34

Theory of Evolution

Answer 34

change in genes of a population over a long time

Question 35

Natural Selection

Answer 35

Heritable Characteristics that increase your survival chances, thus gene (characteristic) becomes more common over time

Question 36

Types of Adaptations

Answer 36

Broad (wide use i.e. learn language, logical reasoning) Domain-specific (solve particular problem i.e. mate selection, choosing food)

Question 37

Parental Investment

Answer 37

Time, effort, energy and risk involved with sucessfully caring for offsprings.

Question 38

Mating System

Answer 38

more competition for the sex that makes the highest parental investment (usually female) Sex with higher investment will be more picky in choosing mates.

Question 39

Monogamous

Answer 39

Mating system where both parents have equal parental investment

Question 40

Polygamous

Answer 40

Unequal parental investments. Polyandry: one female, many males Polygyny: one male, many females. Polygynandry: many male and females

Question 41

Altruism

Answer 41

one individual helps another, usually with sacrifices. i.e. being selfless and self-sacrifice.

Question 42

Cooperation

Answer 42

individual helps another and gains an advantage. i.e. working together to achieve a goal

Question 43

Kin Selection Theory

Answer 43

Type of Altruism where relatives help each other to survive

Question 44

Reciprocal Altruism Theory

Answer 44

I help you now, you help me later. Develops long-term cooperation

Question 45

Aggression

Answer 45

stem from protecting mates, young, territory or food Can develop social hierarchies through fights

Question 46

Genetic Determinism

Answer 46

false idea that effects of genes are concrete and unchangeable

Question 47

Social Darwinism

Answer 47

false idea that those at the top of social hierarchy are the best