Harjas Kaur
PSY101 Unit 2 Study Guide
(Matthews)
Topic: Genes and environment
Reading: The nature-nurture ques2on (Turkheimer). Screencasts: Module 2.1.
• Chromosome - strands of DNA, DNA is the chemical that makes up the chromosomes.
• Gene - Genes are little bits of DNA and they are lined up on the chromosomes and they
code for proteins.
• Phenotype - observable trait and its written in words
• Genotype - information in your gene (genotype w/ the gene) (written in codes) Bb
• Dominant allele - it is a version of a gene that is going to win no matter who the partner
• Recessive allele - it is a version of a gene that only wins if its partner is only recessive
• Carrier - someone who is carrying an information that is not showing up in the phenotype
is called a carrier.
• Polygenic - involving multiple genes
• Be able to understand and create a simple Punnett square. For example, for one specific
gene, if mom has a genotype of Dd and dad has a genotype of dd, what possible genotypes
could their babies have? What proportion of these babies would show the dominant vs.
recessive trait? 50 - 50 %
• How many chromosomes do typically developing humans have? 46 chromosome in total
• How many copies are there of each gene and where do they come from? 23 each from mom
and dad
Behavioral Genetics
• Behavioral Genetics - all about the nature vs nurture (everything else) debate - genes vs
environment
• Adoption study - child (biological parents, shared genes) (adoptive parents, shared
environment) Measure
• Twin study - Monozygotic twin (identical) 100% shared genes, dizygotic twins (fraternal
twins) Measure
• What is the focus of Behavioral Genetics? To research about the nature and individual
differences in behavior
• What are some examples of topics studied? Genetics studies
• What kinds of methods are used to study these topics? Nature vs nurture research
, Epigenetics (only in lesson)
• Epigenetics - looking at the chemical switches that turn genes on and off, without changing
the DNA code. Influence by diet, stress, smoking, meds, population etc. some can be passed
in the next generation, easier to change epigenome and genome
• Can epigenetic changes be passed to the next generation? Yes
Evolutionary Psychology (only in lesson)
• Natural selection - the idea that if a trait or behavior is adaptive, then it makes more likely
the genes that relate to that trait to the next generation.
• Adaptation - a behavior or trait enhances survival or reproduction in some way
• Individual reproductive fitness - a particular behavior or trait enhances the survival of the
individual
• Inclusive fitness - a behavior or trait enhances passing on the genes within the family
• What is the focus of Evolutionary Psychology? Explain the Mechanism of mind
• What are some examples of topics studied? Infants (look for skills present before
experience) Brain imaging (look for specialized brain areas) EEG, MRI, FMRI
• What kinds of methods are used to study these topics? Compare methods case sturdies,
experimental studies, surveys, and quasi experiments.
Topic: Brain structure and function
Reading: The brain and nervous system (Biwas-Diener). Screencasts: Module 2.2.
PSY101 Unit 2 Study Guide
(Matthews)
Topic: Genes and environment
Reading: The nature-nurture ques2on (Turkheimer). Screencasts: Module 2.1.
• Chromosome - strands of DNA, DNA is the chemical that makes up the chromosomes.
• Gene - Genes are little bits of DNA and they are lined up on the chromosomes and they
code for proteins.
• Phenotype - observable trait and its written in words
• Genotype - information in your gene (genotype w/ the gene) (written in codes) Bb
• Dominant allele - it is a version of a gene that is going to win no matter who the partner
• Recessive allele - it is a version of a gene that only wins if its partner is only recessive
• Carrier - someone who is carrying an information that is not showing up in the phenotype
is called a carrier.
• Polygenic - involving multiple genes
• Be able to understand and create a simple Punnett square. For example, for one specific
gene, if mom has a genotype of Dd and dad has a genotype of dd, what possible genotypes
could their babies have? What proportion of these babies would show the dominant vs.
recessive trait? 50 - 50 %
• How many chromosomes do typically developing humans have? 46 chromosome in total
• How many copies are there of each gene and where do they come from? 23 each from mom
and dad
Behavioral Genetics
• Behavioral Genetics - all about the nature vs nurture (everything else) debate - genes vs
environment
• Adoption study - child (biological parents, shared genes) (adoptive parents, shared
environment) Measure
• Twin study - Monozygotic twin (identical) 100% shared genes, dizygotic twins (fraternal
twins) Measure
• What is the focus of Behavioral Genetics? To research about the nature and individual
differences in behavior
• What are some examples of topics studied? Genetics studies
• What kinds of methods are used to study these topics? Nature vs nurture research
, Epigenetics (only in lesson)
• Epigenetics - looking at the chemical switches that turn genes on and off, without changing
the DNA code. Influence by diet, stress, smoking, meds, population etc. some can be passed
in the next generation, easier to change epigenome and genome
• Can epigenetic changes be passed to the next generation? Yes
Evolutionary Psychology (only in lesson)
• Natural selection - the idea that if a trait or behavior is adaptive, then it makes more likely
the genes that relate to that trait to the next generation.
• Adaptation - a behavior or trait enhances survival or reproduction in some way
• Individual reproductive fitness - a particular behavior or trait enhances the survival of the
individual
• Inclusive fitness - a behavior or trait enhances passing on the genes within the family
• What is the focus of Evolutionary Psychology? Explain the Mechanism of mind
• What are some examples of topics studied? Infants (look for skills present before
experience) Brain imaging (look for specialized brain areas) EEG, MRI, FMRI
• What kinds of methods are used to study these topics? Compare methods case sturdies,
experimental studies, surveys, and quasi experiments.
Topic: Brain structure and function
Reading: The brain and nervous system (Biwas-Diener). Screencasts: Module 2.2.
