kms (Ch3 Midterm Psych)

somatic nervous system (SMS)

Transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the skin, muscles, and joints

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the CNS and the body’s glands and internal organs

• responsible for homeostasis

sympathetic

prepares the body for situations requiring the expenditure of energy

parasympathetic

directs the storage of energy

endocrine system

comprised of glands that release chemical messengers known as hormones into the bloodstream to comunicate with other body parts

• Responds to input from the nervous system, esp hypothalamus

• Involved with arousal, metabolism, growth, and sex

pituitary

“master gland”, many of the hormones it releases activates the body’s other glands

• Regulated by hypothalamus, which lies directly above it

pineal

helps regulates body rhythms and sleep cycles

thyroid

regulates the rate of metabolism in the body

adrenal

secretes hormones that arouse the body, help with adjustment to stress, regulate salt balance, and affect sexual functioning

pancreas

release insulin to regulate blood sugar and hunger

nature

contributions of genetic inheritance

nurture

contributions of learning and environment

genes

the units of heredity that help determine the characteristics of an organism

• Humans have 23 pairs

gene expression

whether a particular gene is turned on or off and in what location in the body

genome

the master blueprint for making an entire organism

chromosomes

structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA, segments of which comprise individual genes

DNA

a double stranded helix, made of four nucleotide bases

A, T, G, C

the four nucleotide bases in DNA

genotype

entire genetic makeup of an organism

phenotype

outward expression of genes

allele

alternative form of same gene for a trait

dominant gene

a gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it is present

recessive

a gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from the other parent

genetic drift

Any change in the allele frequencies in a population that is due to chance. Beetle example, 3 green and 3 orange in a population, but 2 of the 3 orange get stepped on, by chance the allele frequencies have now changed

Founder effect

Extreme example of genetic drift; occurs when a small, random sample of a population settles separate from the rest of the population and interbreeds

• EX: the Blue Fugates

importance of sexual reproduction

Increasing genetic diversity, important for survival in changing environments, provides the variability needed for evolution, (with founder effect) the variation is too small —> genetic drift

Behavioral genetics

the study of how genes and environment interact to influence psychological activity

dizygotic twins

fraternal twins; shares 50% of DNA (like regular siblings)

monozygotic twins

identical twins; share 100% of DNA

heredity

transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes

heritability

a statistical estimate of the extent to which variations in a trait within a population is due to genetics

• Refers to populations, not to individuals.