exam 2 lecture 5 Flashcards
genomics
Study of genes. Chemical techniques to modify genes (CRISPR)
Is learning a good universal strategy to deal with problems?
Not universally a good strategy to deal with problems because the environment changes over time
When is learning useful?
when the environment is changing rapidly
When changes occur within a species generational span, what becomes essential?
learning
what is the older way of addressing changes in the environment?
evolution
ex: insects
works across generations
favors short generation spans because it accelerates evolution
many young/adult (r strategy = reproduction)
no benefit from overlapping generations
what is the newer way of addressing changes in the environment?
learning
ex: humans
works within generations
favors long lives so learning can be useful
few young and adults spend a lot of time with their young (k strategy= quality)
overlapping generations (cultural transmission)
How are species separated into the older and newer strategies?
ALL SPECIES USE BOTH STRATEGIES; the degree to which they use either one is where they are grouped
behavioral plasticity
Behavior changes based on environment and experience
What is essential for learning?
Neural tissue, essential for learning, requires substantial energy.
How much body weight does the human brain make up and what percentage of the body’s energy?
The human brain, while only 2% of body weight, consumes approximately 20% of the body’s energy without moving
What does learning rely on?
Learning relies on associations between events occurring in close
proximity. The brain retains information for future reference by modifying neural connections.
engrams
the physical basis of memory, are encoded through synaptic changes.
epigenetics
the study of gene activity regulation determines which
genes are activated.
What did early theories suggest about learning and DNA?
Early theories suggested that learning altered DNA, but research
disprove this notion.
what plays a crucial role in memory storage
Synaptic efficacy changes play a crucial role in memory storage. Synapses form and dissolve continuously, making memory
retention complex. The regulation of synaptic changes is influenced by gene expression.
What is traditional evolutionary theory emphasized by?
Traditional evolutionary theory emphasized the selection of genes,
not gene expression.
Does learning directly pass knowledge to the next generation?
Learning does not directly pass knowledge to the next generation.
mendelian evolution
the selection of traits based on genes. Work much better than Lamarchian, but Lamark was not completely wrong
lamarchian evolution
Changes in an organism would be passed on. Ex: Giraffes reaching for branches in the trees stretched their necks and then were passed on to the next generation. Not totally wrong because the gametes do not always strip the agents that are turning on and off genes. The gametes actually carry what genes are turned on and off
alcohol experiment in rats
Rats develop a taste for it and eventually prefer it over water
A female rat exposed for much of its life to alcohol will have an offspring that would prefer alcohol because her milk contains alcohol, Even if the mother stopped drinking and then had kids, the offspring will still show a preference for alcohol over water to a lesser degree but its still there (an example of TRANSGENERATIONAL EPIGENETICS)
Transgenerational epigenetics
the passing of epigenetic modifications from one generation to the next.
Is learning passed from one generation to the next?
no evolution gets passed to the next generation but learning does not; it is lost in each new generation
learning needs to be retaught in every generation except if
it transfers over through cultural transmission
why has evolution slowed down in our species?
Almost everyone who is born survives and reaches reproductive age
Cultural transmission
Longing of human life (the longer we live, the more we know and use what we have learned)
