Interactive psychology 3.17 - 3.18

Genes

Biological units of inheritance that are passed from parents to offspring, influencing traits and characteristics.

Alleles

Variants of a gene that can be dominant or recessive, influencing an individual's phenotype.

Phenotype

The observable physical and behavioral traits of an individual, determined by the interaction of genotype and environment.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual, encompassing all inherited biological material.

Dominant Allele

An allele that expresses its trait even when only one copy is present in the genotype.

Recessive Allele

An allele that only expresses its trait when two copies are present in the genotype.

Chromosomes

Rod-shaped structures in the nucleus of cells that contain DNA and genes; humans have 23 pairs.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The molecule that carries genetic information, composed of genes arranged in a double helix structure.

Gene Expression

The process by which specific genes are activated or deactivated, influencing an organism's traits and behaviors.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression through modifications to DNA and chromosomal structures.

Heritability

A measure of how much of the variation in a trait across individuals is due to genetic differences, expressed as a proportion.

Behavioral Genetics

The field of study that examines the role of genetic factors in the variation of traits and behaviors among individuals.

Identical Twins (Monozygotic)

Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg and share 100% of their genetic material.

Fraternal Twins (Dizygotic)

Twins that develop from two separate eggs and share approximately 50% of their genetic material.

Environmental Influence

The impact of external factors, such as upbringing and experiences, on gene expression and individual development.

Genetic Predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing certain traits or disorders based on genetic factors.

Hemispatial neglect

A neurological condition (usually) from right hemisphere damage, characterized by the inability to attend to or respond to stimuli on one side of the body or environment. Individuals may ignore objects, people, or even their own limbs on the affected side.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis or weakness, often resulting from brain injury or stroke. It can impact mobility and daily activities, requiring rehabilitation for recovery. Commonly associated with neurological disorders.

Anosognosia

A condition in which a person is unaware of their own illness or disability. Often occurs in neurological disorders, particularly after a stroke or in cases of dementia.

Split-brain

Condition resulting from a surgical procedure that severs the corpus callosum, leading to the two hemispheres of the brain operating independently.

Aphasia

Communication disorder that affects a person's ability to process language. It can impact speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.

Broca’s aphasia

Language disorder characterized by difficulty in speech production while comprehension remains relatively intact. Individuals may struggle to form complete sentences, often speaking in short phrases and omitting small words. This condition typically results from damage to a specific area of the brain associated with language processing, often due to a stroke or injury.

Wernicke’s aphasia

Language disorder characterized by fluent but nonsensical speech. Individuals have difficulty understanding spoken language and often produce sentences that lack meaning or contain made-up words. Comprehension is impaired, while speech production remains relatively intact.