Biology and Behavior Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to Biology and Behavior, including genetics, brain development, and physical growth.

Nature and Nurture

The combination of genes and environments.

Genotype

An individual's genetic material.

Phenotype

The observable expression of the genotype (body and behavior).

Environment

Every aspect of an individual and his or her surroundings other than genes.

Genome

The complete set of genes of an organism.

Chromosomes

Structures that carry genes; humans have 46 in 23 pairs.

Sex Chromosomes

Determine a person’s sex; Females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome.

Mutation

A change that occurs in a section of DNA.

Alleles

Two or more different forms of a gene, contributing to different outcomes for a trait.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait.

Polygenic Inheritance

Involves multiple genes contributing to a trait.

Norm of Reaction

A given genotype will develop differently in different environments.

Epigenetics

The phenomenon where environment can alter the functioning of genes and create stable changes in their expression.

Methylation

The silencing of gene expression.

Behavior Genetics

Concerned with how variation in behavior and development results from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors.

Neurons

Brain cells.

Cortex

Outer layer of the brain, primarily responsible for higher level mental processes.

Cell body

Part of the neuron that contains the nucleus.

Dendrites

Branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons.

Axon

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Synapses

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

Myelin Sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons.

Synaptogenesis

Formation of synapses.

Synaptic Pruning

The elimination of synapses.

Plasticity

The capacity of the brain to be molded or changed by experience.

Experience-Expectant Processes

Brain functions that depend on experiencing certain basic events and stimuli at key points in time to advance normally.

Experience-Dependent Processes

Brain functions that depend on particular, variable experiences and that therefore may or may not develop in a particular person.