Lecture 3

Question 1

Evolutionary Developmental Science

What is theory of scope?

Answer 1

• Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution- Dobzhansky
• Does not explain the origins of life

Question 2

What is Evolution?

Answer 2

• A theory that explains the diversity and function of all living things

Question 3

What does Lamarckianism mean?

Answer 3

Lamarckianism: Inherit traits that change during lifespan

Question 4

Who was Charles Darwin?

Answer 4

• Famous for his theories in evolution
• Interested in explaining a wide variety of life forms that existed
• Invented theories of natural and sexual selection

Question 5

What are the Five Components of Darwin’s Evolution by Natural Selection?

Answer 5

• More offspring are born than survive to reproduce
• Individual vary on different traits
• Certain traits are more likely to pass on offspring (via genes)
• Offspring likely inherit those traits
• Environmental conditions have changed, leading to new species

Question 6

What is the meaning of life biologically?

Answer 6

• It is simply to pass on one’s genes to future generations

Question 7

What are some Evolutionary misconceptions?

Answer 7

• Survival of the fittest – fitness in biology means # offspring; evolution is really survival of those who produce the most successful lineages
• Group selection – evolution acts at the level of the individual, not the species
• Evolution progresses from simple to complex life forms

Question 8

Fit vs. Unfit

Answer 8

• More resources are needed to maintain “ultra healthy” offspring who may only produce two offspring
• For those who don’t live fit lifestyles may produce more than 2 offspring as they require less resources to maintain their lifestyle

Question 9

Group vs. Individual

Answer 9

Groups
- Those who protect “groups” are willing to risk their lives at old age to help the offspring

Individual
- Those who only protect themselves are willing to let the healthy and beneficial die in order to save their own lives

Question 10

What are higher and lower organisms?

Answer 10

• Evolution: moves toward complex forms of life and is random
• 1 in 4 animal species are beetles

Question 11

What do Tooby & Cosmides say about Evolutionary Psychology?

Answer 11

• Domain specific mechanisms
• That are at least partly inheritable, solved problems in the E.E.A. (the past evolutionary environment)
• Note that this allows for experience, nurture, and culture to influence the cognitive mechanisms

Question 12

What are critiques of Evolutionary Psychology?

Answer 12

• Doesn’t typically reveal specific cognitive mechanisms; it’s more of a guide than a manual
• Depends on accurate guesses based on limited information about E.E.A.
• Ignores human culture and other environmental factors

Question 13

What are two Evolutionary Pitfalls?

Answer 13

• Deterministic Fallacy - if evolved, or in our genes it can’t be changed
• Naturalistic Fallacy- evolved, comes from nature, must be morally good/ acceptable

Question 14

What are genes and how do they interplay with our environment and heredity?

Answer 14

• Heredity and environment influence individuals’ characteristics
• When scientists first began to investigate the contributions of heredity and environment, they generally emphasized one factor or the other as the prime influence – both matter
• Model of Interaction

Question 15

What is Genotype?

Answer 15

Genotype: The genetic material an individual inherits

Question 16

What is Phenotype?

Answer 16

Phenotype: The observable expression of the genotype, including body characteristics and behaviour

Question 17

What is Environment?

Answer 17

Environment: Includes every aspect of the individual, and his or her surroundings, other than genes

Question 18

What are the fundamentals of genetic with our parents?

Answer 18

• Parents’ genetic contribute to the child’s genotype
• Contributions of the child’s genotype to his or her own phenotype
• Genetic material is passed on as chromosomes (long, threadlike molecules made up of DNA)
• Known as (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Question 19

What are Endophenotypes?

Answer 19

Endophenotypes: mediate the pathways between genes and behaviour

Question 20

What are Regulator genes?

Answer 20

Regulator genes: genes that control activity of other genes

Question 21

What is Polygenic inheritance?

Answer 21

Polygenic inheritance: inheritance , governs traits with more than one gene
Contribution of the child’s environment to his or her own phenotype

Question 22

What does norm of reaction mean?

Answer 22

Norm of reaction: all the phenotypes that can theoretically result from a given genotype in relation to environments which it can survive and develop

Question 23

What is Behavioural genetics?

Answer 23

Behaviour genetics: science concerned with how variation in behaviour and development results from the combination of genetic and environmental factors

Question 24

Genotypes have what percentage on humans?

Answer 24

• Genes have chromosomes that code for a particular protein sequence that affect other genes
• 2% of human genomes

Question 25

What the Mechanisms that Contribute to Genetic Diversity?

Answer 25

Mutations: Changes in sections of DNA caused by random or environmental factors Random assortment: The shuffling of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the sperm and egg; chance determines which member of the pair goes into the new sperm and egg Crossing over: The process by which sections of DNA switch from one chromosome to another during meiosis, increasing genetic variability

Question 26

What are Alleles?

Answer 26

- Different forms of genes; dominant (expressed if present), recessive (not expressed if dominant is present) - Two of the same alleles (homozygous), two different (heterozygous)

Question 27

How to Sex Chromosomes affect who we are?

Answer 27

- Two x chromosomes in 23rd pair (female), male have y and x - Gene on the Y chromosome encodes a protein that triggers the formation of the testes - Which produce testosterone, takes over the molding of maleness

Question 28

What is the Disadvantage of being a male genetically?

Answer 28

- The Y chromosome has only about a third as many genes on it as the X chromosome - Therefore males inherit more disabilities (colour blindness)

Question 29

What are some Genetic Diseases and Disorders?

Answer 29

- Recessive gene: PKU, sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis - Single dominant gene: Huntington’s disease - Sex-linked inheritance: Fragile-X syndrome, hemophilia - Errors in meiosis (Down syndrome) -

Question 30

In some cases, as with sickle-cell anemia, what can a gene have?

Answer 30

Both - Deleterious effects: A debilitating blood disorder when both alleles are present Benefits: Protection against malaria, a blood parasite that can’t live and grow well in oval blood cells

Question 31

Many syndromes are known to have a genetic basis. What are the specific genetic mechanisms have not been established yet?

Answer 31

- Dyslexia - Tourette’s Syndrome - Autism - Cystic fibrosis - ADHD - Depression - Schizophrenia - Anxiety

Question 32

What is Polygenic Inheritance?

Answer 32

- When traits are governed by more than one gene

Question 33

What is the Case of PKU?

Answer 33

- Phenylketonuria: defective gene on chromosome 12 that is unable to metabolize phenylalanine - Early diagnosis and properly restricted diet can help avoid mental problems

Question 34

What do Regulatoratory Genes do?

Answer 34

- Largely control the switching "on and off" of genes - Only when these are turned on can Genes influences development and behaviour - A major force in both evolution and development - This is because there appears to be a general toolkit for building bodies. They are the final product.

Question 35

What is Epigenetics?

Answer 35

- How genes and the environment work together to produce/develop an organism - Future of developmental studies, eductionist approach, extremely challenging in humans

Question 36

How has the Evolution and brain development differed from other species?

Answer 36

Humans have a much larger brain than is expected for body size, more cortical neurons

Question 37

What is the timeframe of a normal development

Answer 37

- Brain Development is between Birth and 21 years old. | - Migration has created a differentiation within people and how long this is for each person

Question 38

What is Synaptogenesis?

Answer 38

- Cell death and pruning | - Synaptic rearrangement

Question 39

What is Neurogenesis?

Answer 39

- Growth of neurons through cell division | - Nerves

Question 40

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 40

- The ability of the brain to change

Question 41

How do experiences affect synaptogenesis?

Answer 41

- Synapses are formed and maintained by experiences | - Synapses are formed as a result of unique experiences of the individual

Question 42

What happens when you get a brain injury during development?

Answer 42

- Kennard effect: younger brains tend to “heal” better