Chapter 1: The Major Issues

Front 1

Artificial selection

Back 1

change in the frequencies of various genes in a population because of a breeder's selection of desired individuals for mating purposes

Front 2

Autosomal gene

Back 2

gene on any of the chromosomes other than the sex chromosomes (X and Y)

Front 3

Biological psychology

Back 3

study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience

Front 4

Chromosome

Back 4

strand of DNA bearing the genes

Front 5

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Back 5

double-stranded chemical that composes the chromosomes; it serves as a template for the synthesis of RNA

Front 6

Dizygotic twins

Back 6

fraternal (nonidentical) twins

Front 7

Dominant gene

Back 7

gene that shows a strong eff ect in either the homozygous or heterozygous condition

Front 8

Enzymes

Back 8

any proteins that catalyze biological reactions

Front 9

Evolution

Back 9

change in the frequencies of various genes in a population over generations

Front 10

Evolutionary explanation

Back 10

understanding in terms of the evolutionary history of a species

Front 11

Evolutionary psychology

Back 11

field that deals with how behaviors have evolved

Front 12

Fitness

Back 12

number of copies of one's genes that endure in later generations

Front 13

Functional explanation

Back 13

understanding why a structure or behavior evolved as it did

Front 14

Gene

Back 14

unit of heredity that maintains its structural identity from one generation to another

Front 15

Hard problem

Back 15

philosophical question of why and how any kind of brain activity is associated with consciousness

Front 16

Heritability

Back 16

estimate of the degree to which variance in a characteristic depends on variations in heredity for a given population

Front 17

Heterozygous

Back 17

having two unlike genes for a given trait

Front 18

Homozygous

Back 18

having two identical genes for a given characteristic

Front 19

Identity position

Back 19

view that mental processes are the same as certain kinds of brain processes but described in diff erent terms

Front 20

Kin selection

Back 20

selection for a gene because it benefits the individual's relatives

Front 21

Lamarckian evolution

Back 21

discredited theory that evolution proceeds through the inheritance of acquired characteristics

Front 22

Materialism

Back 22

view that everything that exists is material, or physical

Front 23

Mentalism

Back 23

view that only the mind really exists

Front 24

Mindbody problem or mindbrain problem

Back 24

question of how the mind is related to the brain

Front 25

Monism

Back 25

theory that only one kind of substance exists in the universe (not separate physical and mental substances)

Front 26

Monozygotic twins

Back 26

identical twins, derived from a single fertilized egg

Front 27

Multiplier effect

Back 27

tendency for small genetic or prenatal influences to change the environment in a way that magnifies the change

Front 28

Ontogenetic explanation

Back 28

understanding in terms of how a structure or a behavior develops

Front 29

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Back 29

inherited inability to metabolize phenylalanine, leading to mental retardation unless the afflicted person stays on a strict low-phenylalanine diet throughout childhood

Front 30

Physiological explanation

Back 30

understanding in terms of the activity of the brain and other organs

Front 31

Problem of other minds

Back 31

diffi culty of knowing whether other people or animals have conscious experiences

Front 32

Recessive gene

Back 32

gene that shows its effects only in the homozygous condition

Front 33

Reciprocal altruism

Back 33

helping individuals who may later be helpful in return

Front 34

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Back 34

single strand chemical; one type of an RNA molecule serves as a template for the synthesis of protein molecules

Front 35

Sex-limited gene

Back 35

gene that exerts its eff ects primarily in one sex because of activation by androgens or estrogens, although members of both sexes may have the gene

Front 36

Sex-linked gene

Back 36

gene on either the X or the Y chromosome

Front 37

Solipsism

Back 37

philosophical position that I alone exist or I alone am conscious

Front 38

X chromosome

Back 38

chromosome of which female mammals have two and males have one

Front 39

Y chromosome

Back 39

chromosome of which female mammals have none and males have one