The science of psychology (Kap 3)

evolution (biological) gradual change over time in organic life from one form into another

natural selection characteristics that increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction within a particular environment will be preserved in the population and therefore become more frequent over time

mutations random events and accidents in gene reproduction during the division of cells

dominant the particular characteristics that it controls will be displayed

recessive the characteristic will not show up unless the partner gene inherited from the other parent is also recessive

allele alternative forms of a gene that produce different characteristics

homozygous organisms that possess the same type of allele for a trait, either two dominant or two recessive

heterozygous organisms that possess different alleles for a trait, one dominant and one recessive

genotype the specific and complete genetic make-up and the individual

phenotype the individuals outward observable characteristics

adaptations physical or behavioural changes that allow organisms to meet recurring environmental challanges to their survival, thereby increasing their reproductive ability

genes functional segments of the long molecule deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that code for proteins

chromosome a single- or double-stranded structure compromising proteins and DNA

somatic a somatic cell is any cell forming the body of an organism; they do not contain reproductive cells

diploid the number of chromosomes carried by a cell with two complete sets of chromosomes (one from each parent) is called the diploid number of chormosomes

gametes sex cells (eggs and sperm)

haploid the number of chromosomes carried by a gamete cell, which is half the number of chromosomes carried in a typical cell, is called the haploid number of chromosomes

zygote a fertilized egg containing 46 pairs of chromosomes

nucleotides nitrogenous base, phosphate and sugar groups

polygenic transmission when a number of gene pairs combine their influences to create a single phenotypic trait

inherited behavioural adaptations traits that organisms are born with that help promote their chances of survival and reproductive success

fixed action pattern (FAP) an unlearned response automaticallu triggered by a particular stimulus

releasing stimuli external stimuli that trigger fixed action patterns

superstimulus an exaggerated version of a releasing stimulus that triggers a stronger response than the naturalistic model

behavioural genetics examines how heredity and environmental factors influence psychological characteristics

degree of relatedness the number of genes we share with others by direct common descent

concordance co-occurrence

shared environment the environmental factors which certain individuals (twins) share in common (same parents)

non-shared environment the environmental factors that certain individuals (twins) dont share with each other (friend groups)

adoption study people who were adopted early in life are compared on some characteristics both with their biological parents, with whom they share genetic endowment, and with their adoptive parents, with whom they share no genes

twin studies compare trait similarities in identical and fraternal twins

concordance rates statistical expression of the probability that two individuals with shared genes will share a particular trait to the same degree

heritability coefficient estimates the extent to which the differences, or variation, in a specific phenotypic characteristics within a group of people can be attributed to their differing genes

reaction range the range of possibilities - the upper and lower limits - that the genetic code allows

passive gene-environment correlation an association between the childs genetic inheritance and the environment in which they are raised

evocative gene-environment correlation where a childs genetically influenced behaviours evoke certain responses from others in their environment

active gene-environment correlation an association between genotype and the environments which that genotype leads someone to seek out

knock-out procedure where a function of a gene is removed, or eliminated

knock-in procedure where a new gene in inserted into an animal at embryonic stage

evolutionary pshychology a growing discipline that seeks to explain how evolution shaped modern human behaviour

kin selection an evolutionary strategy in which behaviours are selected that favour the reproductive success of an organisms relatives even if that is at a cost to that organisms own survival and reproduction

reciprocal altruism a behaviour in an organism that reduces its fitness to survive and reproduce while increasing another organisms fitness; undertaken with the expectation that the favour will be returned later

evolutionary personality theory looks for the origin of presumably universal personality traits in the adaptive demands of our species evolutionary history

strategic pluralism the idea that multiple - even contradictory - behavioural strategies might be adaptive in certain environments and would therefore be maintained through natural selection

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