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- 2. Darwin’s evolution theory: – all creatures: common ancestry – species goal is to reproduce; – genetics gives us variations which help adapt to environments, – the ‘best’ adaptations carry on the genes by reproduction – Natural selection: ‘weeding out’ process eliminates the ‘weak link’ trait (does not happen in one generation)
- 3. Biopsychology and neuroscience – ‘new’ discipline in psychology. Mixes various areas of study + technology – * “Biology underlies all human sensation and perception, learning and memory, passion and pain, reason—and even madness” * – Nature vs. nurture Neuroscience: connecting the brain and mind
- 4. Brain – 100 billion nerve cells – Most complex structure known – We have extras that are ‘pruned’ or die off – We do generate new cells – We end up with 98 %
- 5. Genetics and evolution: • Applied to psychology, helps to explain LOTS. Ex: phobias about things that may have killed us in the past • What can you remember so far that has been explained (at least in part) by evolutionary principles?
- 6. Genetics and Inheritance Pgs. 66-70
- 7. Genes and inheritance • Genes encode info that become your traits • Blueprint in every nucleus of every cell • Also influence personality, fears, behavior, etc
- 8. • Genes from parents yet you are unique • Heredity; unique combo of genes (genotype) • Phenotype is physical structure, visible traits • Environment affects phenotype too (nutrition, disease, stress) Genes and inheritance
- 9. Chromosomes, Genes, DNA • 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total) Thanks mom and dad! Small Large Gene sequence DNA strands Chromosome nucleus cell
- 10. • DNA strands are made up of nucleotides (‘letters’) that make up genes ‘words’ • Genes are ‘words’ that make up chromosome ‘sentences/ paragraphs’ • Genetic expression; punctuation that tells how and when genes are expressed
- 11. Chromosomes, Genes, DNA • Complete DNA = 30,000 genes • Sex chromosomes: – X from Mom – X or Y from dad • XX = baby girl • XY = baby boy • Variation: slight shuffling of pairing of genes = different genotype even in siblings
- 12. Genetic explanations • Genes influence psychology as well as physical traits – Intelligence, personality, mental disorders, reading and language abilities, and (sexual orientation) • Single gene vs. multiple genes? – Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's – Never attribute psychological characteristics to genetics alone Heredity Environment
- 13. Choosing Child’s Genes • Human Genome project maps genetic code • Insight: cancer, heart disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimers • Select the sex of the baby…add or delete certain traits in the developing fetus?! • Stem cells: generic, non-committed cells – Cloning: organ or entire organism – In vitro fertilization