Biological Beginnings: Evolution and Genetics
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Questions and Answers

What is the main emphasis of the evolutionary perspective in psychology and development?

Natural selection

What is the definition of chromosomes?

Threadlike structures made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

What are the genetic foundations in terms of chromosomes that determine gender?

  • ZZ
  • XY (correct)
  • YY
  • XX (correct)

    • What is the definition of DNA?

    <p>A complex molecule with a double helix shape containing genetic information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the strongest predictor of the likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome?

    <p>Mother's age</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which form of cell division occurs to form eggs and sperm?

    <p>Meiosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the epigenetic view?

    <p>The ongoing bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the interaction between specific genetic variations and specific environmental factors?

    <p>Gene by Environment interactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which period of prenatal development do embryos have a high risk of structural defects?

    <p>Embryonic period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the ability of a fetus to survive outside the womb?

    <p>Viability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the extent of harm caused by teratogens?

    <p>Age of exposure and dose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for environmental agents that cause damage during the prenatal period?

    <p>Teratogens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a critical factor in determining the likelihood of teratogen-induced defects?

    <p>Age of exposure and heredity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the period of prenatal development characterized by rapid growth and organ development?

    <p>Organogenesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the type of learning that occurs in the womb, where the fetus can distinguish the mother's voice?

    <p>Fetal learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the potential hazards that can affect prenatal development?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Biological Beginnings

    • Evolutionary perspective: Emphasizes natural selection, where best adapted individuals survive and reproduce, and explains why we behave in certain ways and how we develop over time.

    Genetic Foundations

    • Chromosomes: 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every human cell, with XX indicating a female and XY indicating a male.
    • DNA: A complex molecule with a double helix shape, containing genetic information, and located in the nucleus of cells.
    • Genes: Units of hereditary information composed of DNA, which help cells reproduce and assemble proteins that direct body processes.
    • Meiosis: A specialized form of cell division that occurs to form eggs and sperm (gametes).
    • Fertilization: The stage in reproduction when an egg and a sperm fuse to create a single cell, called a zygote.
    • Zygote: A single cell formed through fertilization.
    • Twins:
      • Monozygotic (identical): 100% identical, developed from the same fertilized egg.
      • Dizygotic (fraternal): 50% identical, developed from separate eggs.
    • Genotype and phenotype:
      • Genotype: The actual genetic material.
      • Phenotype: The observable expression of genes, influenced by stress, sleep, and other environmental factors.

    Chromosomal Abnormalities

    • Down syndrome: A strong predictor of the likelihood of having an infant with Down syndrome is the mother's age.

    Behavior Genetics

    • Twin and adoption studies:
      • Adoption study: Compares adopted children to their adoptive parents (environment) and biological parents (heredity).
      • Twin study: Compares behavioral differences between identical and fraternal twins, considering environmental factors.
    • These studies help understand the role of environment and genes in development.

    Hereditary and Environmental Interactions

    • Heredity-environment correlations:
      • Passive: Biological parents provide a rearing environment.
      • Evocative: Genetically-influenced characteristics elicit certain environments.
      • Active: Individuals seek and choose environments based on their gene tendencies.
    • Gene by environment interactions:
      • Epigenetic view: The result of ongoing bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment.
      • G x E interaction: The interaction between specific measured variations in DNA and specific measured aspects of the environment.

    Prenatal Development

    • Three periods of prenatal development:
      • Germinal: 2 weeks.
      • Embryonic: 6 weeks, with 3-layer cell formation.
      • Fetal: 28-30 weeks, from week 8 to birth.
    • Organogenesis: Organ development occurs during the embryonic period.
    • Age of viability: 22-26 weeks, when the fetus can survive outside the womb.
    • Fetal learning: The fetus can distinguish its mother's voice from others.
    • Teratogens: Environmental agents that cause damage during the prenatal period, including:
      • Prescription and non-prescription drugs.
      • Environmental hazards.
      • Infections and diseases.
    • Extent of harm: Caused by dose, heredity, age of exposure, and sensitive periods.
    • Hazards to development:
      • Environmental hazards.
      • Maternal diseases.
      • Maternal diet and nutrition.
      • Maternal age: Relates to developmental outcomes, such as infertility, miscarriage, and chromosome abnormalities.
      • Emotional states and stress: Deprives the fetus of oxygen and nutrients.
      • Paternal factors: Abnormalities of sperm can lead to miscarriage or cancer.

    The Birth Process

    • 98% of births occur in hospitals, with midwives and doulas as components.
    • Analgesia, anesthesia, and oxytocin/pitocin are used to manage pain and induce labor.

    Assessing the Newborn

    • Apgar scale: Evaluates the newborn's condition, with a score of 7+ indicating good condition, 4-6 indicating some assistance needed, and 3 or below indicating serious danger.

    Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants

    • Preterm infant: Born 3+ weeks before full term (37 or fewer weeks).
    • Low birth weight: Weighing less than 5 pounds, 5 ounces.
    • Normal weight: 5.5 pounds to 8 pounds.
    • Consequences of preterm and low birth weight: Problems in physical growth, learning, movement, social skills, and emotional well-being, which may continue into adulthood.
    • Nurturing low birth weight infants:
      • Kangaroo care: Skin-skin contact on the bare chest, which stabilizes heart rate, temperature, and breathing.

    Postpartum Period

    • Bonding: The connection between the mother and infant after birth.
    • Postpartum depression: Experienced by 10% of mothers, 4 weeks after birth.
    • Blues: A mild, short-term depression experienced by 70% of mothers, lasting 2-3 days.

    Down Syndrome

    • Mother's age is the strongest predictor of having an infant with Down syndrome.

    Behavior Genetics

    • Twin and adoption studies:
      • Adoption study: compares adopted children to adoptive and biological parents to determine the role of environment and heredity.
      • Twin study: compares behavioral differences between identical and fraternal twins to determine the role of genes and environment.

    Hereditary and Environmental Interactions

    • Heredity-environment correlations:
      • Passive genotype-environment correlation: biological parents provide rearing environment.
      • Evocative genotype-environment correlation: genetically-influenced characteristics elicit certain environments.
      • Active genotype-environment correlation: seeking and choosing environments based on gene tendencies.

    Shared and Non-Shared Environmental Experiences

    • Shared environmental experiences: common experiences among family members, such as parenting style, socioeconomic status, and household environment.
    • Non-shared environmental experiences: unique experiences to each individual within a family.

    Evolutionary Perspective

    • Evolutionary perspective: emphasizes natural selection, where best adapted individuals survive and reproduce.
    • Charles Darwin's theory: changes occur gradually over time through many generations.

    Genetic Foundations

    • Chromosomes:

      • 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in humans.
      • XX = female, XY = male.

    • DNA:

      • A complex molecule with a double helix shape.
      • Contains genetic information.

    • Genes:

      • Units of hereditary information composed of DNA.
      • Help cells reproduce and assemble proteins.

    • Meiosis:

      • A specialized form of cell division that occurs to form eggs and sperm.

    • Fertilization:

      • A stage in reproduction when an egg and sperm fuse to create a single cell, called a zygote.

    • Zygote:

      • A single cell formed through fertilization.

    • Twins:

      • Monozygotic (identical) twins: 100% identical.
      • Dizygotic (fraternal) twins: 50% identical.

    • Genotype and phenotype:

      • Genotype: actual genetic material.
      • Phenotype: observable expression of genes, influenced by stress, sleep, etc.

    Gene by Environment Interactions

    • Epigenetic view: ongoing bidirectional interchange between heredity and environment.
    • G x E interaction: interaction of specific measured variation in DNA and specific measured aspect of environment.

    Prenatal Development

    • Three periods of prenatal development:

      • Germinal period: 2 weeks.
      • Embryonic period: 6 weeks, 3-layer cells.
      • Fetal period: 28-30 weeks.

    • Organogenesis: organ development during embryonic period.

    • Age of viability:

      • Ability to survive outside of womb.
      • Can determine sex.

    Teratogens and Fetal Learning

    • Teratogens: environmental agents that cause damage during prenatal period.

    • Fetal learning: ability to distinguish mother's voice from others.

    • Extent of harm:

      • Caused by dose, heredity, age of exposure.
      • Includes low birth weight and high birth weight.

    • Teratogen types:

      • Prescription and nonprescription drugs.
      • Environmental hazards.
      • Infections/disease.

    • Hazards to development:

      • Environmental hazards.
      • Maternal diseases.
      • Maternal diet and nutrition.

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    Description

    Understand the evolutionary perspective and the genetic foundations of life, including chromosomes, DNA, and genes.

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