Genes and Behaviors

phenotypic plasticity

change in organism’s behavior, morphology, and physiology in response to environmental changes

innate or instinctive behaviors

behaviors that are closely controlled by genes with little or no environmental influence

what is a type of innate / instinctive behavior that we learned in class?

fixed action pattern

fixed action patterns

behaviors (sequences of movements) that displays almost no variation and once started cannot be stopped until completed

what triggers a fixed action pattern?

sign stimulus (releaser)

cross-fostering experiments

technique which involves transferring newly born of species A from their parental species to species B or if there is multiple offspring, then the litter or clutch would be subdivided, with some going to B, and some staying home with A