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UNIT 3C
UNIT 3C: Biological Bases of Behavior
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| behavior genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior |
| environment | every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us |
| chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |
| DNA | a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes |
| genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein |
| genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes |
| identical twins | twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, crating two genetically identical organisms |
| fraternal twins | twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs they are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment |
| heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes the heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied |
| interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity) |
| molecular genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes |
| evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural election |
| natural selection | the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
| mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change |