Motivation, Hunger, and DNA Structure and Function

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering psychology concepts in motivation and hunger, as well as biological concepts in DNA structure, chromosome organization, and semiconservative replication.

Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory claiming that individuals are motivated to satisfy basic physiological needs before progressing to higher-order needs.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation originating from internal enjoyment, interest, or personal satisfaction (such as participating in running because it is relaxing and exhilarating) rather than external rewards or competitive outcomes.

Incentive Theory

A theory of motivation claiming that an organism's attraction to particular goals or objects drives much of its behavior.

Drive Theory

A motivational theory claiming that behavior is driven by internal biological needs that demand satisfaction, such as the physiological needs for food and water.

Set Point Theory

The theory proposing that the brain regulates an individual's body weight around a genetically predetermined level.

Hypothalamus

The region of the brain that detects decreases in blood sugar levels and the depletion of fat from fat cells to signal hunger.

Biological Factors in Eating Disorders

Physiological and genetic components implicated in eating disorders, specifically including genetic predisposition and irregularities in serotonin regulation.

Chromosome Condensation

The degree of structural packing of DNA; gene expression tends to be higher in less condensed areas of the chromosome, and condensation reaches its peak during cell division.

Histones

Individual, positively charged proteins that interact with negatively charged DNA to form nucleosomes and organize chromosome structure.

Nucleosome

A fundamental unit of DNA packaging formed when negatively charged DNA wraps around positively charged histone proteins.

Karyotype

A standardized visual preparation in which an organism's chromosomes are imaged and visualized as tightly packed DNA.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The universal molecule of inheritance in all living organisms, consisting of two nucleotide strands coiled into a double helix held together by bonds between internal nucleotide bases.

DNA Nucleotide

The structural monomer of DNA composed of three distinct components: one phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogen-containing base.

Complementary Base Pairs (DNA)

Specific internal pairings where adenine ($\text{A}$) forms hydrogen bonds exclusively with thymine ($\text{T}$), and guanine ($\text{G}$) pairs with cytosine ($\text{C}$).

$5'$ End

The terminus of a DNA strand characterized by a phosphate group, which links to a $3'$ oxygen during nucleic acid synthesis.

Complementary DNA Sequence

An antiparallel matching nucleotide sequence that pairs with a template strand (e.g., the complement to the sequence $5'\text{-GTGATGCTT-}3'$ is $3'\text{-CACTACGAA-}5'$).

Semiconservative Replication

The model of DNA replication in which each newly formed double helix contains one conserved original strand from the parent cell and one newly synthesized strand.

DNA Polymerase

An essential enzyme that carries out DNA replication by synthesizing new strands of DNA.

Diploid Cell

A cell that contains two complete sets of chromosomes.

Chromosome

A cellular structure that consists of tightly bundled DNA together with associated structural proteins.

Hershey-Chase Experiments

Experiments utilizing bacteriophages to identify the molecule of inheritance, demonstrating that radiolabeled viral DNA entered inside bacterial cells while radiolabeled viral protein remained outside.

Uncorrected Replication Mutation

An error occurring during DNA replication that fails to be repaired, causing the mutation to be transmitted to exactly one daughter cell after cell division is complete.