Download Prenatal development

DEP 2004 Human Growth & Development
Dr. Sheila Seelau
Study Guide
Chapter 2: Biological Beginnings
Learning Goals & Study Questions: Answer each chapter Learning Goal
question (1-4) and bulleted sub-question in sentence format to best prepare for
the Unit 2 exam. Key terms are italicized (like these sentences). You should be
able to define each key term (see master list below) in the context of the
questions that appear here.
1. Discuss the evolutionary perspective on life-span development. (also review
section on evolutionary perspective in Ch. 1)

Define natural selection, reproductive fitness, adaptation, and biological
certainty.

Answer the questions on the evolutionary theory exercise (class worksheet)
by explaining the mechanism that underlies each behavior – reproductive
fitness, biological certainty, etc.

What is the main emphasis of evolutionary psychology?

Give examples of three "fit" physical, behavioral, and psychological
characteristics, and explain how such adaptations may have evolved through
natural selection.

According to evolutionary perspective, how should mating strategies differ
for men vs. women?

According to Paul Baltes, why do humans outlive their reproductive capacity
(live long after they are able to reproduce)? How might natural selection
operate differently at various points in the life span?
2. Describe what genes are and how they influence human development.

Distinguish between chromosomes, DNA, and genes.

How are genes passed on from one generation to the next?

Is genetic expression solely the product of nature or nurture? Or is it
influenced by both? Give an example to explain.

Define mitosis, meiosis, and zygote. How many chromosomes from each
parent pair up in the zygote?

Which pair of chromosomes determines the infant’s sex? How do male and
female sex chromosome pairs differ?

Explain what it means that identical twins are monozygotic (one zygote),
whereas fraternal twins are dizygotic (two zygotes).

Distinguish between genotypes and phenotypes.

Explain the concept of polygenetic determination of phenotypes. Is it likely
that individual genes are responsible for each human characteristic?
3. Explain some of the ways that heredity and environment interact to produce
individual differences in development.

What is behavior genetics?

How do twin studies compare the relative contributions of genes and the
environment to human characteristics?

Are identical twins or fraternal twins more genetically similar to each other?
Are identical or fraternal twins more similar to each other in terms of
physical characteristics? What about psychological characteristics? What can
we conclude from twin studies about the relative contributions of nature and
nurture to psychological characteristics?

Define and give examples of shared and nonshared environmental
experiences. Which is more important in explaining differences between
siblings' psychological and behavioral characteristics?
4. Characterize the course of prenatal development and its hazards.

Describe the three periods of prenatal development: Germinal, embryonic,
and fetal. Describe approximately how long each period lasts, and the major
events that occur in each period.

What are teratogens? Give five examples of teratogens.

What factors influence the severity of damage caused by teratogens?

At what prenatal stage is the developing child most susceptible to
teratogens?

Describe characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) related to
heavy alcohol use in pregnant mothers.

What are some of the possible effects of smoking during pregnancy?

Explain the importance of maternal diet and nutrition for fetal development.
Key Terms
Evolutionary theory
Natural selection
Fitness
Adaptation
Reproductive fitness
Evolutionary psychology
Chromosomes
DNA
Genes
Fertilization
Zygote
Genotype
Phenotype
Genetic expression
Polygenetic determination
Behavior genetics
Twin study
Identical twins
Fraternal twins
Shared environmental experiences
Non-shared environmental experiences
Prenatal development
Germinal period
Embryonic period
Fetal period
Teratogens
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Postpartum period