basic Primate Behavior Flash cards

basic Primate Behavior Flash cards

Y-5 molar: Molar cusp pattern in which five molar cusps are separated by a "Y"-shaped groove pattern.

Molar cusp pattern in which five molar cusps are separated by a "Y"-shaped groove pattern.

5-alpha reductase deficiency

An autosomal recessive syndrome that manifests when a child having both X and Y sex chromosomes inherits two nonfunctional (mutated) copies of the SRD5A2 gene, producing a deficiency in a hormone necessary for development in infancy of typical male genitalia.

Adaptive radiation

The situation in which subgroups of a single species rapidly diversify and adapt to fill a variety of ecological niches.

Admixture

A term often used to describe gene flow between human populations. Sometimes also used to describe gene flow between nonhuman populations.

Allele frequency

The ratio, or percentage, of one allele compared to the other alleles for that gene within the study population.

Alleles

Variant forms of genes.

Allopatric speciation

Speciation caused by long-term isolation (physical separation) of subgroups of the population.

Artificial selection

Human-directed assortative mating among domestic animals, such as pets and livestock, designed to increase the chances of offspring having certain desirable traits.

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction via mitosis, whereby offspring are clones of the parents.

Balanced translocations

Chromosomal translocations in which the genes are swapped but no genetic information is lost.

Balancing selection

A pattern of natural selection that occurs when the extremes of a trait are selected against, favoring the intermediate phenotype (a.k.a. stabilizing selection).

Beneficial mutations

Mutations that produce some sort of an advantage to the individual.

Chromosomal translocations

The transfer of DNA between nonhomologous chromosomes.

Deleterious mutation

A mutation producing negative effects to the individual such as the beginnings of cancers or heritable disorders.

Deletions

Mutations that involve the removal of one or more nucleotides from a DNA sequence.

Derivative chromosomes

New chromosomal structures resulting from translocations.

Directional selection

A pattern of natural selection in which one phenotype is favored over the other, causing the frequencies of the associated advantageous alleles to gradually increase.

Disruptive selection

A pattern of natural selection that occurs when both extremes of a trait are advantageous and intermediate phenotypes are selected against (a.k.a. diversifying selection).

Ecological niche

A set of constraints and resources that are available in an environmental setting.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome

An autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short stature (dwarfism), polydactyly (the development of more than five digits [fingers or toes] on the hands or feet), abnormal tooth development, and heart defects. Estimated to affect approximately one in 60,000 individuals worldwide, among the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County, the rate is estimated to be as high as one in every 200 births.

Evolution

A change in the allele frequencies in a population over time.

Exons

The DNA sequences within a gene that directly encode protein sequences. After being transcribed into messenger RNA, the introns (DNA sequences within a gene that do not directly encode protein sequences) are clipped out, and the exons are pasted together prior to translation.

Fertile offspring

Offspring that can successfully reproduce, resulting in offspring of their own.

Founder effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when members of a population leave the main or 'parent' group and form a new population that no longer interbreeds with the other members of the original group.

Frameshift mutations

Types of indels that involve the insertion or deletion of any number of nucleotides that is not a multiple of three. These 'shift the reading frame' and cause all codons beyond the mutation to be misread.

Gametes

The reproductive cells, produced through meiosis (a.k.a. germ cells or sperm or egg cells).

Gene

A sequence of DNA that provides coding information for the construction of proteins.

Gene flow

The movement of alleles from one population to another. This is one of the forces of evolution.

Gene pool

The entire collection of genetic material in a breeding community that can be passed on from one generation to the next.

Genetic drift

Random changes in allele frequencies within a population from one generation to the next. This is one of the forces of evolution.

Genotype

The set of alleles that an individual has for a given gene.

Genotype frequencies

The ratios or percentages of the different homozygous and heterozygous genotypes in the population.

Guevedoces

The term coined locally in the Dominican Republic for the condition scientifically known as 5-alpha reductase deficiency. The literal translation is 'penis at twelve.'

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A mathematical formula (1=p2 + 2pq + q2) that allows estimation of the number and distribution of dominant and recessive alleles in a population.

Harlequin ladybeetle

A species of ladybeetle, native to East Asia, that was introduced to Europe and the Americas as a form of pest control. After many decades of use, one of the North American strains developed the ability to reproduce in diverse environments, causing it to spread rapidly throughout the Americas, Europe, and Africa. It has hybridized with European strains and is now a major pest in its own right.

Heterozygous genotype

A genotype comprising two different alleles.

Homozygous genotype

A genotype comprising an identical set of alleles.

Hybridization

A term often used to describe gene flow between nonhuman populations.

Inbreeding

The selection of mates exclusively from within a small, closed population.

Indels

A class of mutations that includes both insertions and deletions.

Inherited mutation

A mutation that has been passed from parent to offspring.

Insertions

Mutations that involve the addition of one or more nucleotides into a DNA sequence.

Isolation

Prevention of a population subgroup from breeding with other members of the same species due to a physical barrier or, in humans, a cultural rule.

Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)

The ancient organism from which all living things on Earth are descended.

Macroevolution

Changes that result in the emergence of new species, how the similarities and differences between species, as well as the phylogenetic relationships with other taxa, lead to changes that result in the emergence of new species.

Malaria

A frequently deadly mosquito-borne disease caused by infection of the blood by a Plasmodium parasite.

Malignant

Cancerous. Malignant tumors grow aggressively and their cells may metastasize (travel through the blood or lymph systems) to form new, aggressive tumors in other areas of the body.

Microevolution

Changes in allele frequencies within breeding populations—that is, within a single species.

Modern Synthesis

The integration of Darwin's, Mendel's, and subsequent research into a unified theory of evolution.

Monosomies

Conditions resulting from a nondisjunction event, in which a cell ends up with only one copy of a chromosome.

Mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence of the genetic code. This is one of the forces of evolution.

Natural selection

An evolutionary process that occurs when certain phenotypes confer an advantage or disadvantage in survival and/or reproductive success.

Negative assortative mating

A pattern that occurs when individuals tend to select mates with qualities different from their own.

Neurofibromas

Nerve sheath tumors that are common symptoms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1

An autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting one in every 3,000 people, caused by mutation of the NF1 gene on Chromosome 17.

NF1

An abbreviation for Neurofibromatosis Type 1. When italicized, NF1 refers to the gene on Chromosome 17 that encodes the neurofibromin protein.

Nondisjunction events

Chromosomal abnormalities that occur when the homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids fail to separate after pairing.

Nonrandom mating

A scenario in which mate choice within a population follows a nonrandom pattern.

Nonsynonymous mutation

A point mutation that causes a change in the resulting protein.

Old Order Amish

A culturally isolated population in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that has approximately 50,000 current members.

Origins of life

How the first living organism came into being.

Peacock

The male sex of the peafowl, famous for its large, colorful tail, which it dramatically displays to attract mates.

Peppered moth

A species of moth (Biston betularia) found in England that has light and dark phenotypes.

Phenotype

The observable traits that are produced by a genotype.

Phylogenetic tree of life

A family tree of all living organisms, based on genetic relationships.

Phylogenies

Genetically determined family lineages.

Plasmodium

A genus of mosquito-borne parasite. Several Plasmodium species cause malaria when introduced to the human bloodstream via a mosquito bite.

Plexiform neurofibromas

Neurofibromas that involve whole branches of nerves, often giving the appearance that the surface of the skin is "melting."

Point mutation

A single-letter (single-nucleotide) change in the genetic code, resulting in the substitution of one nucleic acid base for a different one.

Polymorphisms

Multiple forms of a trait; alternative phenotypes within a given species.

Population

A group of individuals who are genetically similar enough and geographically near enough to one another that they can breed and produce new generations of individuals.

Population bottleneck

A type of genetic drift that occurs when the number of individuals in a population drops dramatically due to some random event.

Positive assortative mating

A pattern that results from a tendency for individuals to mate with others who share similar phenotypes.

Retrotransposons

Transposons that are transcribed from DNA into RNA, and then are "reverse transcribed," to insert the copied sequence into a new location in the DNA.

Scutellata honey bees

A strain of honey bees that resulted from the hybridization of African and European honey bee subspecies. These bees were accidentally released into the wild in 1957 in Brazil and have since spread throughout South and Central America and into the United States. Also known as "killer bees," they tend to be very aggressive in defense of their hives and have caused many fatal injuries to humans and livestock.

Sexual reproduction

Reproduction via meiosis and combination of gametes. Offspring inherit genetic material from both parents.

Sexual selection

An aspect of natural selection in which the selective pressure specifically affects reproductive success (the ability to successfully breed and raise offspring).

Sickle cell anemia

An autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is most common in Africa, countries around the Mediterranean Sea, and eastward as far as India. Homozygotes for the recessive allele develop the disorder, which produce misshapen red blood cells that cause iron deficiency, painful episodes of oxygen-deprivation in localized tissues, and a host of other symptoms. In heterozygotes, though, the sickle cell allele confers a greater resistance to malaria.

Somatic cells

The cells of our organs and other body tissues (all cells except gametes) that replicate by mitosis.

Speciation

The process by which a single population divides into two or more separate species.

Species

Organisms whose individuals are capable of breeding because they are biologically and behaviorally compatible to produce viable, fertile offspring.

Spontaneous mutation

A mutation that occurs due to random chance or unintentional exposure to mutagens. In families, a spontaneous mutation is the first case, as opposed to mutations that are inherited from parents.

Subspecies

A distinct subtype of a species. Most often, this is a geographically isolated population with unique phenotypes; however, it remains biologically and behaviorally capable of interbreeding with other populations of the same species.

Sympatric speciation

When a population splits into two or more separate species while remaining located together without a physical (or cultural) barrier.

Synonymous mutation

A point mutation that does not change the resulting protein.

Transposable elements

Fragments of DNA that can "jump" around in the genome.

Transposon

Another term for "transposable element."

Trisomies

Conditions in which three copies of the same chromosome end up in a cell, resulting from a nondisjunction event. Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome are trisomies.

Unbalanced translocations

Chromosomal translocations in which there is an unequal exchange of genetic material, resulting in duplication or loss of genes.

UV crosslinking

A type of mutation in which adjacent thymine bases bind to one another in the presence of UV light.

Viable offspring

Offspring that are healthy enough to survive to adulthood.

Xeroderma pigmentosum

An autosomal recessive disease in which DNA repair mechanisms do not function correctly, resulting in a host of problems especially related to sun exposure, including severe sunburns, dry skin, heavy freckling, and other pigment changes.

African clade

A grouping that includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, humans, and their extinct relatives.

Activity pattern

Refers to the time of day an animal is typically active.

Analogy

When two or more taxa exhibit similar traits that have evolved independently, the similar traits evolve due to similar selective pressures. (Also sometimes called convergent evolution, parallel evolution, or homoplasy.)

Arboreal

A descriptor for an organism that spends most of its time in trees.

Ancestral trait

A trait that has been inherited from a distant ancestor.

Asian clade

A grouping that includes orangutans and their extinct relatives

Bilophodont

Molar pattern of cercopithecoid monkeys in which there are usually four cusps that are arranged in a square pattern and connected by two ridges.

Bipedalism

Walking on two legs.