Genetic Variation and Heredity Quiz

Genetic variation exists due to differences in individuals' DNA sequences.
Chromosomes are long strands of DNA, with 23 pairs in humans.
DNA is a helix-shaped molecule containing genetic codes.
Genes are segments of DNA carrying traits, determining visible characteristics.
Alleles are specific versions of genes, coding for different expressions.
Genotype refers to an individual's genetic makeup, while phenotype refers to their physical characteristics.
Homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a specific trait, while heterozygous individuals have two different alleles.
Recessive alleles are only expressed when an individual has two copies of that allele.
Punnett squares are tools used to predict the probability of offspring inheriting specific traits.

Sperm fertilization of an egg results in a zygote, a single cell structure.
Mitosis is the process of cell division, creating a multicellular organism from the zygote.
The embryo stage occurs from 7-10 days, with 150 cells developing.
The placenta serves as a vital organ for nutrient and waste exchange between the fetus and mother.
The fetus stage begins at 9 weeks, with further development and growth.
Between 16-28 weeks, significant brain development occurs.
At 36 weeks, the fetus weighs approximately 6 lbs and measures 18.5 inches, nearing birth.
By 37 weeks, all organs are fully developed, reducing birth complications.
From 37 - 40 weeks, weight continues to gain until birth, with limited movement space.

Newborn reflexes are crucial for survival and instinctive responses.
The Babinski reflex involves foot extension, while the blink reflex protects the eyes.
The Moro reflex is a startle response, the grasping reflex involves palm grasping, and the rooting reflex involves head turning towards touch on the cheek.
Stepping, Babkin (forehead pressure), sucking, and Galant (pelvis curving) reflexes are also present.
Newborns have strong smell but underdeveloped vision.
Infants prefer human voices and faces, particularly those mimicking speech.

Newborns typically weigh between 5-10 lbs, doubling in weight by 6 months and tripling by a year.
By 2 years, weight quadruples, with an average range of 20-40 lbs.
The average length at birth is 19.5 inches, reaching 29.5 inches by 1 year and 34.4 inches by 2 years.

Rapid neural growth, known as "blooming," occurs during infancy and childhood.
Neural connections are pruned throughout childhood and adolescence, allowing for mastery of complex skills.
Motor skills involve body movement and object manipulation.
Fine motor skills involve small muscle groups for precise movements, while gross motor skills involve large muscle groups for large movements.

Attachment is a long-lasting bond formed with caregivers, crucial for emotional and social development.
John Bowlby developed attachment theory, highlighting the importance of secure attachment for healthy development.
Mary Ainsworth categorized attachment styles: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent, and disorganized.

Primary sexual characteristics, essential for reproduction, include the uterus and ovaries in females and testes in males.
Secondary sexual characteristics include breast development, hip widening, facial hair, and deepened voice in males.
Adrenarche is the period of adrenal gland development, influencing puberty.
Gonadarche is the period of sex gland development, leading to hormonal changes.
Menarche marks the onset of menstrual periods in females, typically around 12-13 years old.
Spermarche marks the first ejaculation in males, usually around 13-14 years old.

The brain continues to bloom in the frontal lobe, focusing on planning, decision-making, and impulse control.
Adolescents engage in risk-taking behaviors and experience emotional outbursts due to developing emotional regulation skills.
The teenage brain is only 80% mature, maturing from the back to the front.
The four brain lobes are: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
Adolescents transition from concrete thinking to abstract thinking, questioning authority and societal norms.

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning, reasoning, and impulse control.
The parietal lobe processes information related to touch, sight, and language.
The amygdala is the emotional center, handling emotions like passion, fear, aggression, and impulses.
The hippocampus is involved in memory and learning.
The ventral striatum is responsible for reward and motivation.

Emerging adulthood spans from 18 years to mid-20s, focusing on work and love.
Early adulthood ranges from the 20s to 40s, marking physical maturity and peak physical abilities.
Middle adulthood extends from the 40s to 60s, characterized by gradual physical decline and menopause for women.
Late adulthood begins at 60 years and beyond, with significant physical decline, including skin thinning, memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.

Sigmund Freud: Focused on psychosexual development, emphasizing unconscious desires and early experiences.
Erik Erikson: Developed the psychosocial stages of development, focusing on social interactions and identity formation throughout the lifespan.
Jean Piaget: Proposed the stages of cognitive development, emphasizing children's active participation in constructing knowledge.
Lawrence Kohlberg: Developed the stages of moral development, focusing on individuals' reasoning about right and wrong.