Week 3 Flashcards
(25 cards)
Adoption study
A behavior genetic research method that involves comparison of adopted children to their adopted and biological parents
Behavioral genetics
The empirical science of how genes and environments combine to generate behavior
Heritability coefficient
An easily misinterpreted statistical construct that purports to measure the role of genetics in the explanation of differences among individuals
Quantitative genetics
Scientific and mathematical methods for inferring genetic and environmental processes based on the degree of genetic and environmental similarity among organisms
Twin studies
A behavior genetic research method that involves comparison of the similarity of identical and fraternal twins
Adaptations
Evolved solutions to problems that historically contributed to reproductive success
Error management theory (EMT)
A theory of selection under conditions of uncertainty in which recurrent cost asymmetries of judgement or inference favour the evolution of adaptive cognitive biases that function to minimize the more costly errors
Evolution
Change over time
Gene selection theory
The modern theory of evolution by selection by which differential gene replication is the defining process of evolutionary change
Intersexual selection
A process of sexual selection by which evolution occurs because of the mate preference of one sex exerting selection pressure on members of the opposite sex
Intrasexual competition
A process of sexual selection by which members of one sex compete, and the victors gain preferential mating access to members of the opposite sex
Natural selection
Differential reproductive success because of differences in heritable attributes
Psychological adaptations
Mechanisms of the mind that evolved to solve specific problems of survival or reproduction; conceptualized as information processing devices
Sexual selection
The evolution of characteristics because of the mating advantage they give organisms
Sexual selection theory
A comprehensive evolutionary theory of human mating that defines the menu of mating strategies humans pursue, the adaptive problems women and men face when pursuing these strategies, and the evolved solutions to the problems
DNA methylation
Covalent modifications of mammalian DNA occurring via the methylation of cytosine
DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs)
Enzymes that establish and maintain DNA methylation using methyl-group donor compounds or cofactors
Epigenetics
The study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence
Epigenome
The genome-wide distribution of epigenetic marks
Gene
A specific DNA sequence that codes for specific polypeptide or protein or an observable trait
Genome-wide association study (GWAS)
A study that maps DNA polymorphisms in affected individuals and controls matched for age, sex, and ethnic background with the aim of identifying causal genetic variants
Geneotype
The DNA content of a cell’s nucleus, whether a trait is externally observable or not
Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs)
HATs are enzymes that transfer acetyl groups to specific positions on histone tails, prompting an “open” chromatin state and transcriptional activation. HDACs remove the acetyl groups, resulting in a “closed” chromatin state and transcriptional repression
Histone modifications
Posttranscriptional modifications of the N-terminal “tails” of histone proteins that serve as a major mode of epigenetic regulation. These modifications include acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, sumoylation, etc.
