Evolutionary Psych

Lectures 4-7

Comparative Psychology

the study of similarities and differences in behavioral organization among living beings, from bacteria to plants to humans.

the study of similarities and differences in behavioral organization among living beings, from bacteria to plants to humans.

Comparative Psychology

Homology

similarities between organisms or their structures that are due to shared ancestry

similarities between organisms or their structures that are due to shared ancestry

Homology

What are 4 things required for natural selection?

Variation, inheritance(mutation), differential survival, adaptation (competition)

Convergent evolution

evolution of similar traits in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressures and natural selection

evolution of similar traits in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressures and natural selection

Convergent evolution

Genotype

set of DNA molecules in a nuclues (refers to a trait)

set of DNA molecules in a nuclues (refers to a trait)

Genotype

Phenotype

an organism’s phisology, anatomy and behaviour (observable traits)

an organism’s phisology, anatomy and behaviour (observable traits)

Phenotype

Chromosome

a structure within the cell nucleus that contains DNA and genetic information.

a structure within the cell nucleus that contains DNA and genetic information.

Chromosome

Gene

A stretch of DNA that produces a specific protein

A stretch of DNA that produces a specific protein

Gene

Allele

Alternative forms of a gene at the same locus

Alternative forms of a gene at the same locus

Allele

Locus

Position of a gene on a chromosome

Position of a gene on a chromosome

Locus

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a specific gene.

Having two identical alleles for a specific gene.

Homozygous

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular trait

Having two different alleles for a particular trait

Heterozygous

Dominant

an allele that manifests itself in both heterozygous and homozygous

an allele that manifests itself in both heterozygous and homozygous

Dominant

Recessive

an allele that manifests itself in only homozygotes

an allele that manifests itself in only homozygotes

recessive

polygenic inheritance

trait whose phenotypic expression is influenced by many genes such as psychological traits

trait whose phenotypic expression is influenced by many genes such as psychological traits

polygenic inheritance

violent “warrior gene”

specific variants of the MAOA gene, which codes for the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAOA)

specific variants of the MAOA gene, which codes for the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAOA)

violent “warrior gene”