L5 - evolution & genetics

Question 1

nature

Answer 1

genes determine behaviour

Question 2

nurture

Answer 2

environment determine behaviour

Question 3

interactionism

Answer 3

certain basic abilities innate but influenced by experience, which changes which innate behaviours are expressed, which in turn influences experience
interplay between genes & environmental factors
Piaget’s theory of human development: knowledge-compatable expriences assimilate, disequilibrium -> accommodation by changing concepts of world

Question 4

nativism

Answer 4

knowledge of the world is innate/a priori (Descartes)

Question 5

empiricism

Answer 5

mind at birth is tabula rasa, no knowledge/behaviour is inherited, all is learned (Locke)

Question 6

proximate causation

Answer 6

internal change, explain how

Question 7

ultimate causation

Answer 7

evolutionary change, explains why
genes do not cause behaviour, they allow certain behaviours to emmerge

Question 8

species

Answer 8

tend to mate
produce fertile offspring
sapiens = wise

Question 9

genus

Answer 9

species evolved from common ancestor
Homo = human

Question 10

homo erectus

Answer 10

possibly also mated with H. sapiens

Question 11

homo neanderthalensis

Answer 11

mitochondrial DNA found in Europeans & Asians

Question 12

homo sapiens

Answer 12

outcompeted all other human species
walking upright -> see predators from afar & frees hands

Question 13

out of Africa hypothesis

Answer 13

most widely accepted
modern humans evolved as one species in Horn of Africa 200-300k years ago before migrating out
most recent wave 50-70k years ago

Question 14

multiregional hypothesis

Answer 14

evolution within single, continuous human species encompassing all human forms, evolved worldwide to diverse populations of modern humans
now more similar to assimilation model

Question 15

cognitive revolution

Answer 15

70k years ago
greater ability to process information likely reason we outcompeted others
increase in brain size -> planning, coordination, communication, innovation
rapid behaviour change, more variety in tools & art

Question 16

argricultural revolution

Answer 16

12k years ago
change from hunter-gatherer to domestication
population no longer restricted by food availability (security, feed more children)
more restrictive diet
many diseases (cavities, diabetes, cancer, zoonotic)
ownership
more dependent on weather
sedentary, more time working
trapped, no way back to old lifestyle

Question 17

scientific revolution

Answer 17

500 years ago
Galileo, Bacon, Descartes
scientific method to understand & control nature

Question 18

anthropocene

Answer 18

proposed new epoch charcaterised by human modification of entire biosphere, climate, geology, ecosystems

Question 19

gene

Answer 19

DNA sequence

Question 20

genotype

Answer 20

complete set of organism’s genes

Question 21

phenotype

Answer 21

overt (observable) characteristics, produced by genotype & environment

Question 22

epigenetics

Answer 22

regulation of gene expression
histones need to unwrap to allow access to DNA

Question 23

chromosome

Answer 23

spool of genetic material wound around histones

Question 24

diploid set

Answer 24

46 chromosomes
gene from both set codes for same thing, physicality dependent on gene expression

Question 25

haploid set

Answer 25

23 chromosomes (egg & sperm)

Question 26

allele

Answer 26

different form of same gene

Question 27

homozygous

Answer 27

alleles code for same phenotype

Question 28

heterozygous

Answer 28

alleles code for different phenotype, usually dominant gene is expressed

Question 29

innate human behaviours

Answer 29

inborn abilities present at birth/rapidly during development reflexes, attraction to novelty, play, manipulate objects, basic cognitive skills (counting), Moro reflex (falling), feeding

Question 30

baby scheme/Kindchenschema

Answer 30

"cute" facial characteristics elicit caretaking behaviour large head, round face, high protruding forehead, large eyes, smal nose & mouth

Question 31

piloerection

Answer 31

hair stands up in reaction to fright & cold makes us look bigger->scarier insulation, keeps layer of air around skin

Question 32

preference for cover

Answer 32

unconscious use of environmental features remnant from being middle of food chain children building forts, caves, hideaways preference to sit with back against wall, take seats at corner & edge, high lookout for dwellings

Question 33

innate social behaviours

Answer 33

shared with primates stretching out hand as initiation of contact body contact to signal affection pet/carress from allogrooming hard-wired facial expressions, re-enaction -> empathy

Question 34

grasping reflex

Answer 34

newborns able to support own weight from climates clinging to mother's fur

Question 35

crying

Answer 35

reflex to sooth distressed child due to extreme unease (caring response, activates amygdala) complex, well-coordinated, highly effective

Question 36

twin studies on intelligence

Answer 36

comparing mono- & dizygotic twins in same vs dif environment results: mostly genetic (twins always higher similarity in intelligence than siblings of unrelated) but somewhat influenced by environment

Question 37

heritability

Answer 37

IQ scores of adopted children correlate more with biological relatives heritability estimate for intelligence -.4-0.5 for children, 0.6-0.8 for adults

Question 38

dizygotic twins

Answer 38

fraternal, from two different embryos (share half of genes)

Question 39

monozygotic twins

Answer 39

identical, from same embryo

Question 40

Darwin's theory of evolution

Answer 40

factors: rapid multiplication, limited resources, competition (struggle for existence), more variation = more likely to adapt, survival of the fittest = natural selection acting on phenotype random mutation -> not all offspring viable/will survive

Question 41

prokaryotic cell

Answer 41

no membrane-bound organelles or nucleus

Question 42

eukaryotic cell

Answer 42

plants, animals, contain specialised organelles

Question 43

symbiotic process

Answer 43

not always competition/random mutation/natural selection, cooperative complex eukaryotic cells emmerged from phagocytosis of other bacteria which became specialised organelles

Question 44

endocymbiotic theory/theory of symbiogenesis

Answer 44

evidence: cell cannot make organelles double membrane certain lipids in inner membrane reproduce through binary fission like bacteria circular ring DNA in mitochondria

Question 45

consequences of cognitive evolution

Answer 45

birth canal limits brain size -> folded structure ARHGAP11A gene random mutation to B 2.5% weight, 25% energy vs apes 8% compromise for brain energy consumption: muscle atrophy, weaker jaws diet: cooking increases caloric density and digestion speed premature births -> babies plastic, helpless for a long time, require group raising -> social by necessity -> language, possibly friendliness

Question 46

consequences of language

Answer 46

coordination, planning complex actions additive transmission of knowledge abstract concepts, sharing myths, laws friendliness, cooperation of strangers larger societies (150 kinship tribes -> cities,nations)

Question 47

problems with evolutionary psychology

Answer 47

modularity (discrete codeable modules, eg snake detection) - behaviour actually from complex interation of brain regions confirmatory testing - little research based on experimentation, can only confirm not reject hypothesis Simple genetic model - assumption that every trait must be genetic & increase fitness, but many in fact cultural (see mate selection)