Natural Selection
evolutionary process by which those individuals of a species that are best adapted are the ones, that survive and reproduce
survivors are better adapted to their world than are the non-survivors (Brooker, 2011)
Adaptive Behavior
is a behavior that promotes an organism's survival in the natural habitat (Johnson & Loslos, 2010).
Evolutionary Psychology
emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and "survival of the fittest" in shaping behavior
"fit" in this sense refers to the ability to bear offspring that survive long enough to bear offspring of their own
evolution shapes our physical features, such as body shape and height
influences how we make decisions, how aggressive we are, our fears, and our mating patterns
David Buss
has been especially influential in stimulating new interest in how evolution can explain human behavior.
Evolution Developmental Psychology
extended childhood period evolved because humans require time to develop a large brain and learn the complexity of human societies
psychological mechanisms are domain-specific; e.g. information processing
evolved mechanisms are not always adaptive in contempart society
Paul Balts
"the benefits conferred by evolutionary selection decrease with age"
Albert Bandura
acknowledges the important influence of evolution on human adaptation.
Bidirectional View
environmental and biological conditions influence each other.
Steven Jay Gould
"In most domains of human functioning biology allows a broad range of cultural possibilities"
Chromosomes
are thread-like structures made up of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA
come in 23 pairs, one member of each pair coming from each parent
DNA
complex molecule with a double helix shape, like a spiral staircase and contains genetic information.
Genes
the units of hereditary information, are short segments of DNA. They direct cells to reproduce themselves and to assemble proteins.
Proteins
are the building blocks of cells as well as the regulators that direct the body's processes.
Mitosis
the cell's nucleus including the chromosomes duplicates itself and the cell divides
two new cells are formed, each containing the same DNA as the original cell, arranged in the same 23 pairs of chromosomes
Meiosis
a cell of the testes or ovaries duplicates its chromosomes but then divides twice, thus forming four cells, each of which has only half of the genetic material of the parent cell
by the end of meiosis, each egg or sperm has 23 unpaired chromosomes
Fertilization
an egg and a sperm fuse to create a single cell, called a zygote.
Zygote
the 23 unpaired chromosomes from the egg and the 23 unpaired chromosomes from the sperm combine to form one set of 23 paired chromosomes
one chromosome of each pair from the mother's egg and the other from the father's sperm.Mutated gene
Identical twins
monozygotic twins
develop from a single zygote that splits into two genetically identical replicas, each of which becomes a person
Fraternal twins
dizygotic twins
develop from separate eggs and separate sperm, making them genetically no more similar than ordinary siblings
Mutated Gene
a permanently altered segment of DNA, a mistake by cellular machinery, or damage from an environmental agent such as radiation.
Genotype
made up of all of a person's genetic material.
Phenotype
consists of observable characteristics including physical characteristics (such as height, weight, and hair color) and psychological characteristics (such as personality and intelligence).
Dominant-Recessive Genes Principle
in some cases, one gene of a pair always exerts its effects; it is dominant, overriding the potential influence of the other gene, called the recessive gene
a recessive gene exerts its influence only if the two genes of a pair are both recessive
X-linked Inheritance
when a mutated gene is carried on the X chromosome.
Males
individuals (gender) who mostly have X-linked diseases because they only have one X chromosome.
Females
individuals (gender) that are known as "carriers" and they usually do not show any signs of the X-linked disease.
Autosomal
diseases related to 23 chromosomes
Genetic Imprinting
occurs when the expression of a gene has different effects depending on whether the mother or the father passed on the gene.
Polygenic Inheritance
most are determined by the interaction of many different genes
gene-gene interaction is increasingly used to describe studies that focus on the interdependence of two or more genes in influencing characteristics, behavior, diseases, and development
Chromosomal Abnormalities
occurs when a gamete is formed and the male’s sperm and/or the female's ovum do not have their normal set of 23 chromosomes.
Down Syndrome
caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21
round face, a flattened skull, an extra fold of skin over the eyelids, a protruding tongue, short limbs, and retardation of motor and mental abilities
Klinefelter's Syndrome
genetic disorder in which males have an extra X chromosome, making them XXY instead of XY
undeveloped testes, and they usually have enlarged breasts and become tall
Fragile X Syndrome
results from an abnormality in the X chromosome, which becomes constricted and often breaks
mental deficiency often is an outcome, but it may take the form of mental retardation, a learning disability, or a short attention span
occurs more frequently in males than in females, possibly because the second X chromosome in females negates the effects of the other abnormal X chromosome
Turner Syndrome
chromosomal disorder in females in which either an X chromosome is missing, making the person XO instead of XX, or part of one X chromosome is deleted
short in stature and have webbed neck, they might be infertile and have difficulty in mathematics, but their verbal ability is often quite good
XYY Syndrome
chromosomal disorder in which the male has an extra Y chromosome.
Gene-linked Abnormalities
abnormalities produced by harmful genes
more than 7,000 genetic disorder
Phenylketonuria
genetic disorder in which the individual cannot properly metabolize phenylalanine, an amino acid
results from a recessive gene and occurs about once in every 10,000 to 20,000 live births
excess phenylalanine builds up in the child, producing mental retardation and hyperactivity
occurs primarily in whites
treated by a diet that prevents an excess accumulation of phenylalanine
heredity-environment interaction (the presence of a genetic defect does not inevitably lead to the development of the disorder if the individual develops in the right environment)
Sickle Cell Anemia
genetic disorder that impair the body's red blood cells
recessive gene causes the RBC to become a hook-shaped "sickle" - cannot carry oxygen properly and dies quickly
occurs most often in African Americans
Hemophilia
prolonged bleeding or oozing following an injury, surgery, or having a tooth pulled
X-linked recessive pattern
Hemophilia A
also known as classic hemophilia or factor VIII deficiency
is the most common type of the condition; 1 in 4,000 to 1 in 5,000 males worldwide are born with this disorder
Hemophilia B
also known as Christmas disease or factor IX deficiency
occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 newborn males worldwide
Tay Sach's Disease
rare inherited disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
infants with this disorder typically appear normal until the age of 3 to 6 months, when their development slows and muscles used for movement weaken
affected infants lose motor skills such as turning over, sitting, and crawling
also develop an exaggerated startle reaction to loud noises
children with Tay-Sachs disease experience seizures, vision and hearing loss, intellectual disability, and paralysis
mutations in the HEXA gene
autosomal recessive pattern
Ultrasound
parental medical procedure in which high-frequency sound waves are directed into the pregnant woman's abdomen
the echo from the sounds is transformed into a visual representation of the fetus' inner structures
no risk to the woman or fetus in this test
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
uses a powerful magnet and radio images to generate detailed images of the body's organs and structures
can provide more detailed images than ultrasound
detect better than sonography such as certain central nervous system, chest, gastrointestinal, genital/urinary, and placental abnormalities
Chorionic Villus Sampling
prenatal medical procedure in which a small sample of the placenta (the vascular organ that links the fetus to the mother's uterus) is removed
diagnosis takes about 10 days
a small risk of limb deformity when used
done at 10th to 12th weeks of pregnancy
Amniocentesis
prenatal medical procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid is withdrawn by syringe and tested for chromosomal or metabolic disorders
done at 15th and 18th weeks of pregnancy
may take two weeks for enough cells to grow and test results to be obtained
brings a small risk of miscarriage: about 1 woman in every 200 to 300 miscarries after this procedure
Maternal Blood Screening
identifies pregnancies that have an elevated risk for birth defects such as spina bifida and down syndrome
done at 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy
triple screen because it measures three substances in the mother's blood
Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis
mainly focused on the isolation and examination of fetal cells circulating in the mother's blood and analysis of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma
successfully test for genes inherited from a father that cause cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease
Infertility
defined as the inability to conceive a child after 12 months of regular intercourse without contraception
woman may not be ovulating, she may be producing abnormal ova, her fallopian tubes by which ova normally reach the womb may be blocked, or she may have a disease that prevents implantation of the embryo into the uterus
man may produce two few sperm, the sperm may lack motility or her may have a block passageway
In Vitro Fertilization
procedure in which eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish.
Adoption
the social and legal process by which a parent-child relationship is established between persons unrelated at birth.
Behavior Genetics
the field that seeks to discover the influence of heredity and environment on individual differences in human traits and development
try to figure out what responsible for the differences among people - that is, to what extent do people differ because of differences in genes, environment, or combination of these
often use either twin or adoption situations
Twin Study
the behavioral similarity of identical twins is compared with the behavioral similarity of fraternal twins.
Adoption Study
investigators seek to discover whether the behavior and psychological characteristics of adopted children are more like those of their adoptive parents, who have provided a home environment, or more like those of their biological parents, who have contributed their herdity.
Heredity Environment Correlations
means that an individual's genes may influence the types of environments to which they are exposed.
Sandra Scarr
behavior geneticist
described three ways hereditary and environment are correlated
Passive Genotype-Environment Correlations
occur because biological parents, who are genetically related to the child, provide a rearing environment for the child.
Evocative Genotype-Environment Correlations
occur because a child's characteristics elicit certain types of environment.
Active Genotype-Environment Correlations
occur when children seek out environment that they find compatible and stimulating.
Niche-picking
refers to finding a setting that is suited to one's abilities.
Robert Plomin
has found that shared environment accounts for little of the variation in children's personality or interest.
Gilbert Gottllieb
emphasizes the epigenetic view, which states that development is the result of an ongoing, bidirectional interchange between heredity and the environment.
Gene X Environment Interaction
the interaction of a specific measured variation in the DNA and a specific measure aspect of the environment.
38-40 weeks
average weeks of pregnancy.
Germinal Period
the period which takes place in the first 2 weeks after conception
it includes the creation of the fertilized egg (zygote), cell division, and the attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall
Blastocyst
inner layer of cells that develop in the germinal period and later develop into the embryo.
Trophoblast
outer layer of cell that develops in the germinal period and cells provide nutrition and support and support for the embryo.
Implantation
attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall takes place about 11-15 days after conception.
Embryonic Period
the period of prenatal development which occurs 2-8 weeks after conception
during this period, the rate of cell differentiation intensifies, support systems for the cells form, and organs appear
Embryo
consists of 3 layers of germ cells.
Endoderm
inner layer of cells, which will develop into the digestive and respiratory systems.
Mesoderm
middle layer, which will become the circulatory system, bones, muscles, excretory systems, and reproductive system.
Ectoderm
outer layer, which will become the nervous system and brain, sensory receptors (ears, nose, eyes), and skin parts (hair and nails),
Amnion
a bag or envelope that contains a clear fluid in which the developing embryo floats.
Umbilical Cord
containing two arteries and one vein that connects the baby to the placenta.
Placenta
consists of a disk-shaped group of tissues in which small blood vessels from the mother and offspring intertwine.
Organogenesis
organ formation that takes place during the first 2 months of prenatal development.
3rd week after conception
the neural tube that eventually becomes the spinal cord forms.
About 21 days
the eyes begin to appear
24 days
the cells for the heart begin to differentiate.
5 to 6 weeks
there should be a heartbeat heard from the ultrasound.
4th weeks
the urogenital system becomes apparent and arm and leg buds emerge, four chambers of the heart take shape, and blood vessels appear.
5th to 8th week
arms and legs differentiate further
at this time, the face starts to form but still is not very recognizable
the intestinal tract develops and the facial structures fuse
8 weeks
the developing organisms weighs about 1/30 ounce and is just over 1 inch long.
Studied by 28 People
