Download Evolution, Genes, and Behavior

Evolution, Genes, and
Behavior
Unlocking the Secrets of Genes
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Genes and how they operate
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Human Genome Project
Studying genetic material
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The link between genetics and behavior
Genes and How They Operate
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Genes
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Chromosomes
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functional units of heredity which are composed of
DNA and specify the structure of proteins.
rod-shaped structures within cells that carry genes.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
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transfers genetic characteristics by way of instructions
for the structure of proteins.
The Link Between Genes and Behavior
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Even when researchers locate a gene on a
chromosome, they do not automatically know its
role in physical or psychological functioning.
Most human traits are influenced by more than
one gene pair.
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Examples include height and eye color.
Evolution and Natural Selection
Charles Darwin- On the Origin of the
Species (1859)
Natural selection –
The driving force behind evolution, by which
the environment “selects” the fittest
organisms
Environmental pressure
(changes in the environment)
Competition
(for resources)
Selection of effective phenotype
(from among a variety of phenotypes)
Reproductive success
Frequency of that genotype increases
(in next generation)
Genes and Inheritance
Genotype – An organism’s
genetic makeup
-inaccurate terminology
(“blueprint”, timetable)
Phenotype – An organism’s observable or
measurable characteristics
Plasticity
Plasticity –
Ability of a living organism to adapt or change as the
result of experience (e.g., the nervous system and
neural plasticity*)
*Plant Story*