exam 2 lecture 3

Question 1

What gender does a higher amount of testosterone equate to?

Answer 1

a male presentation

Question 2

What gender does a lower amount of testosterone equate to?

Answer 2

a female presentation

Question 3

is gender a spectrum

Answer 3

There is a wide range between hypermale and hyperfemale traits.

The distribution of gender-related characteristics forms a gradient
rather than a strict binary.

Some individuals fall outside traditional male and female
classifications.

Question 4

Do neighboring embryos contribute to hormonal influence?

Answer 4

Neighboring embryos contribute to hormonal influences in development.

Question 5

embryos with less testosterone have more or less nuturing behaviors

Answer 5

Embryos with reduced testosterone show more nurturing behaviors
typically seen in females.

Question 6

testosterone antagonists

Answer 6

Using testosterone antagonists can lower testosterone and alter
sexual characteristics.

Question 7

testosterone agonists

Answer 7

Using testosterone agonists increases testosterone levels and
enhances male traits.

Question 8

is testosterone the only factor that influences sexual orientation?

Answer 8

Testosterone plays a crucial role in determining gender, but it is not
the only factor influencing sexual orientation.

Question 9

testosterone levels in homosexual males and females

Answer 9

Homosexual males tend to have lower testosterone levels, while some homosexual females have higher levels.

Question 10

What happens to the size of the hypothalamus in homosexual males?

Answer 10

Certain brain structures, such as the hypothalamus, are smaller in
homosexual males compared to heterosexual males.

Question 11

Why has natural selection not eliminated homosexuality?

Answer 11

Some theories suggest that homosexual individuals may contribute to the survival of their relatives’ offspring. evidence shows this is stronger in animal species than humans

Question 12

Many species engage in sexual behaviors for bonding reasons and reproductive reasons; which category of animal only does it for reproducive purposes?

Answer 12

Insects, by contrast, typically exhibit sexual behavior only for
reproductive purposes.

Question 13

differences between bonobos and chimpanzees

Answer 13

Bonobos
Exhibit low levels of aggression.

Resolve disputes through sexual behavior rather than physical conflict.

Their social system prioritizes relationships and cooperation over gene propagation.

Chimpanzees
More aggressive in nature compared to bonobos.

Have a broader range and are more widely distributed.

Their aggression may contribute to their evolutionary success.

Question 14

in alligators, what determines the sex of offspring?

Answer 14

In species like alligators, nest temperature determines the sex of offspring.

High temperatures may result in the development of females, while low temperatures lead to male development.

Question 15

Protandrous hermaphrodites

Answer 15

first function as males before becoming females. Some fish species change their functional sex over their lifespan. The availability of females in the population can trigger this transition.

Question 16

critical periods

Answer 16

Critical periods are specific windows in development when
particular biological or behavioral changes occur. These periods shape the final attributes of an organism.

Question 17

imprinting

Answer 17

Imprinting occurs when an animal forms an attachment to a specific
stimulus early in life. It requires the stimulus to be of a roughly correct shape and moving at an appropriate speed. Once an animal imprints, it is less likely to imprint on another stimulus later.

Question 18

how do animals choose mates (scent)?

Answer 18

Animals often choose mates based on early sensory experiences.
A rat pup nursed by a mother with a specific odor (cherry or golden) will later prefer mates with a similar odor.

Question 19

precocial animals

Answer 19

More developed at birth.
Capable of movement and independence shortly after birth.
ex: Ground-dwelling birds and deer.

Question 20

altricial animals

Answer 20

Born less developed and dependent on parental care. Typically found in species that have safer nesting areas.
ex: birds that nest on cliffs and trees.

Question 21

Why are humans different from most altricial species?

Answer 21

Humans are born highly underdeveloped (altricial).

They have a small litter, unlike most altricial species.

Question 22

Rat pups were tested with two different maternal scents, one from the biological mom and a non-mother.

Answer 22

The rat pup usually selects the nipple closest to the scent of its
biological mother

Question 23

What does mammalian breast milk contain?

Answer 23

A low concentration of an
opiate precursor. This precursor can be converted into morphine in the infant’s digestive system.

Question 24

exogenous opiates

Answer 24

Exogenous opiates (those derived from plants) mimic these natural
mechanisms.

Question 25

sensitive periods

Answer 25

Allow for gradual transitions and impact sensory perception, social bonding, and language acquisition

Question 26

Can a transgender nurse an infant?

Answer 26

Yes, this demonstrates the flexibility of mammalian biological systems in response to environmental stimuli.

Question 27

How many sounds can humans initially discriminate?

Answer 27

around 100 different phonemes but overtime lose them if they are not present in their environment

Question 28

Do genetic predispositions play a role in learning?

Answer 28

Genetic predispositions play a significant role in learning and cognitive development. These predispositions can impact the way individuals process and respond to environmental stimuli.

Question 29

During a sensitive period, what happens to visual perception?

Answer 29

Individuals can better discriminate between lines when presented vertically or almost horizontally. rather than horizontally. Studies in other species show that they, too, have predispositions to better discriminate between vertical and horizontal lines. In a study involving kittens raised without exposure to straight lines. They struggled to discriminate between lines once adults, highlighting the importance of early environmental exposure.

Question 30

developmental homeostasis

Answer 30

Developmental homeostasis is the ability of organisms to compensate for environmental differences, resulting in similar outcomes despite varying conditions. ex: children in Amsterdam during WWII who experienced severe malnutrition had normal cognitive development despite bad conditions. Humans have a genetically programmed ability to maintain relatively normal development.

Question 31

genetic sensitivity

Answer 31

A particular gene variation can make individuals more susceptible to environmental factors, such as stress or deprivation. Those with this gene variation may experience more negative outcomes in poor environments but thrive in positive, nurturing environments.

Question 32

are humans more or less developed than other great apes

Answer 32

Humans are considered underdeveloped at birth compared to other great apes, as they retain a youthful form into adulthood.

Question 33

how is playfulness different between humans and great apes?

Answer 33

Humans retain playfulness throughout life, unlike other great apes who outgrow it.

Question 34

Do all species fully mature?

Answer 34

Some vertebrate species complete their life cycle in an immature form. They never grow beyond a juvenile state but still reproduce. ex: Salamanders Amphibians typically undergo metamorphosis, where larvae lose their tails upon maturing. Certain salamanders retain larval characteristics throughout life. Despite looking like larvae, they reproduce as adults. This phenomenon is called paedomorphosis.

Question 35

why are salamanders immature?

Answer 35

Scientists injected salamanders with growth hormone. The treated salamanders absorbed their tails and matured into adult forms. This suggests their immature state is due to suppressed growth signals.

Question 36

paedomorphosis

Answer 36

Retaining juvenile traits into adulthood while remaining reproductively mature.

Question 37

neoteny

Answer 37

Slower development, spending extended time in an immature state.

Question 38

what neotenous traits do humans exhibit

Answer 38

Humans exhibit some neotenous traits, such as prolonged childhood and delayed physical maturity compared to other species.

Question 39

Did early animals have backbones?

Answer 39

Early animals did not have backbones. The first vertebrates developed notochords, which are flexible rods supporting their bodies.

Question 40

tunicates

Answer 40

Tunicates (sea squirts) start life as free-swimming larvae with notochords. Upon maturing, they attach to the ocean floor, absorb their tails, and lose their notochords. Some scientists suggest that vertebrates evolved when certain ancient tunicate-like species retained their larval traits into adulthood.

Question 41

what is the predictable life cycle species follow?

Answer 41

Growth, reproduction, and reproductive senescence.

Question 42

do any species not experience reproductive decline?

Answer 42

Some organisms do not experience reproductive decline ex: Turtles: Older individuals become more fertile with age. Marine animals: Some continue reproducing indefinitely until external factors end their lives.

Question 43

what species reproduces before reaching full maturity?

Answer 43

Some species reproduce before reaching full maturity. Example: A small opossum species reproduces while still appearing juvenile.

Question 44

praying mantis lifespan

Answer 44

In certain species, males die soon after mating, while females live much longer. Prairie mantises have a reversed dynamic where females dominate.

Question 45

what do all behaviors have

Answer 45

physiological roots including homosexuality. Homosexuality arises from all of us being hermaphrodidtic

Question 46

atlantic leatherback turtles and their nest temperatures

Answer 46

A high nest temperature results in males developing. The temperature is extreme enough to override the genetics

Question 47

endogenous opiates

Answer 47

(inside the body) opiates in the form of endorphins (play a critical role in regulating dopamine levels which helps with pain)

Question 48

How many phonomes do most languages have?

Answer 48

40-60

Question 49

what does it mean if someone has a double recessive risk allele

Answer 49

both genes are the risk gene theyre much more influenced by the environment than others Very sensitive to their upbringing environment These individuals are called orchids

Question 50

what is reproductive senescence?

Answer 50

lose the ability to reproduce