Development Across The Life Span

Question 1

Human Development

Answer 1

Scientific study of changes that occur in people as they age from conception until death.

Question 2

Nature

Answer 2

The influence of our inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions.

Question 3

Nurture

Answer 3

The influence of the environment on personality, physical growth, intellectual growth and social interactions.

Question 4

Behavioral Genetics

Answer 4

This is the field of study where the researchers determine how much of behavior is the result of genetic inheritance and how much is due to a person’s experiences.

Question 5

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid

Answer 5

Special molecule that contains the genetic material of an organism.

Question 6

Gene

Answer 6

Section of DNA that has a certain pattern of chemical elements.

Question 7

Chromosome

Answer 7

• Tightly wound strand of genetic material/ DNA

- Humans have 46 pairs of chromosomes

Question 8

Determining traits

Answer 8

• Dominant= refers to a gene that actively controls the expression of a trait.
• Recessive= refers to a gene that only influences the expression of a trait.

Question 9

Polygenetic Inheritance

Answer 9

This is the process by which a trait is influenced by more than one pair of genes.

Question 10

Chromosome Disorders

Answer 10

• Down Syndrome = an extra chromosome on the 21st pair. Results in symptoms such as almond-shaped and wide set eyes, intellectual disability, and increased risk of organ failure.
• Klinefelter syndrome = an extra sex chromosome is on the 23rd pair (XXY). Results in a male having reduced masculine characteristics.
• Turner syndrome = a missing X chromosome from the XX pair. Results in females being short, infertile and sexually underdeveloped.

Question 11

Fertilization and twins

Answer 11

Fertilization refers to the fusion of the ovum and the sperm.

Monozygotic twins - formed when the zygote splits into two separate masses of cells, and each develops into a separate embryo.

Dizygotic twins - formed when two egg cells get fertilized by two different sperm, resulting in the development of two zygotes in the uterus at the same time.

Question 12

Germinal Period

Answer 12

• Involves the first 2 weeks after fertilization, during which the zygote moves down to the uterus and begins to implant in the lining.

**Mitosis occurs ( divides the zygote into mass cells to eventually form the baby).

**Attachment to the uterine wall (uterus: muscular organ that will contain and protect the developing organism).

**Formation of the placenta and umbilical cord

Question 13

Stages of development

Answer 13

Germinal period - lasts about 2 weeks

Embryonic period - from 2 to 8 weeks

Fetal period - lasts from 8 weeks unit the end of pregnancy

Question 14

Embryonic Period

Answer 14

A period of 2 to 8 weeks after fertilization, during high the major organs ad structure oof organism develops.

Developing organism now known as the embryo - heart begins to beat at the end of this period.

**critical period : a time when som environmental influences can have an impact on the developing infant.

**teratogens : any factor that can cause a birth defect.

Question 15

Fetal Period

Answer 15

The time from about 8 weeks after conception until the bright of the baby.

Developing organism is now known as the fetus. (8 weeks after fertilization t the birth of the baby)

**significant weight and length development

**organ function

**development of fat

Question 16

Infancy and childhood development

Answer 16

Time of rapid growth and development of the motor skills, cognitive abilities and sensory systems.

• Physical development [ motor, brain n=and sense development ]
• Cognitive development [ schema, simulation and accommodation ]

Psychosocial development [ attachment, temperament, identity (first 4 stages) ]