All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the definition of a phenotype?
Answer: Phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. It's the visible expression of genetic and environmental factors.
Flashcard 2: Which term describes the study of changes in organisms caused by gene expression?
Answer: Epigenetics. Focuses on heritable changes in gene activity without DNA changes.
Flashcard 3: Identify a method to measure the impact of environment on intelligence.
Answer: Environmental enrichment studies. Studies how improved environments affect cognitive performance.
Flashcard 4: Identify a factor that demonstrates gene-environment interaction in health.
Answer: Diet and obesity. Genetic susceptibility modifies response to dietary factors.
Flashcard 5: What is an example of a non-shared environmental influence?
Answer: Different peer groups. Unique experiences that make siblings different from each other.
Flashcard 6: Which psychological disorder has a well-documented genetic component?
Answer: Schizophrenia. Shows strong genetic component with environmental triggers.
Flashcard 7: What does a high heritability score imply?
Answer: A large portion of trait variation is due to genetic differences. Most individual differences are explained by genetic factors.
Flashcard 8: What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in a genetic context?
Answer: The capacity for genes to be influenced by the environment. Genes can be responsive to environmental inputs.
Flashcard 9: What is the role of methylation in epigenetics?
Answer: Methylation can silence gene expression. A key epigenetic mechanism for controlling gene activity.
Flashcard 10: What is the concept of 'reaction range' in genetics?
Answer: The range of possible phenotypes for a genotype influenced by the environment. Environment determines which potential phenotype is expressed.
Flashcard 11: What is the definition of 'epigenetic modification'?
Answer: Chemical changes to DNA that affect gene expression without altering the sequence. These changes can be inherited across generations.
Flashcard 12: What is the term for environmental influences that are consistent for siblings?
Answer: Shared environment. Common family experiences that affect all children similarly.
Flashcard 13: Identify a psychological trait with significant genetic influence.
Answer: Personality. Shows strong genetic influence with moderate heritability.
Flashcard 14: Which factor can modify the expression of genetic traits?
Answer: Environmental conditions. Environment can activate or suppress genetic predispositions.
Flashcard 15: What is the role of methylation in epigenetics?
Answer: Methylation can silence gene expression. A key epigenetic mechanism for controlling gene activity.
Flashcard 16: Identify the concept describing how experience can shape brain structure.
Answer: Neuroplasticity. The brain's ability to reorganize based on experience.
Flashcard 17: What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in a genetic context?
Answer: The capacity for genes to be influenced by the environment. Genes can be responsive to environmental inputs.
Flashcard 18: What is the definition of 'heritability coefficient'?
Answer: A statistic representing the proportion of phenotypic variance due to genetics. Ranges from 0 to 1, indicating genetic contribution strength.
Flashcard 19: What does the term 'gene-environment correlation' mean?
Answer: Genetic factors influence exposure to specific environments. Genes influence what environments individuals encounter.
Flashcard 20: Identify an example of a passive gene-environment correlation.
Answer: Parents pass on genes and also create a compatible environment. Children inherit both genes and matching environmental contexts.
Flashcard 21: What is an evocative gene-environment correlation?
Answer: Genes evoke responses from the environment that enhance genetic tendencies. Individual traits elicit specific responses from others.
Flashcard 22: Which psychological disorder has a well-documented genetic component?
Answer: Schizophrenia. Shows strong genetic component with environmental triggers.
Flashcard 23: Identify a key environmental factor that affects cognitive development.
Answer: Nutrition. Essential for proper brain development and intellectual growth.
Flashcard 24: What does the term 'cultural inheritance' refer to?
Answer: Transmission of cultural beliefs and practices across generations. Non-genetic transmission of learned behaviors and knowledge.
Flashcard 25: Which concept explains the influence of prenatal environment on development?
Answer: Fetal programming. Early environment permanently alters gene expression patterns.
Flashcard 26: What is an example of a non-shared environmental influence?
Answer: Different peer groups. Unique experiences that make siblings different from each other.
Flashcard 27: What is an example of a shared environmental influence?
Answer: Family income. An environmental factor that siblings experience similarly.
Flashcard 28: Identify a factor that influences both heredity and environment.
Answer: Socioeconomic status. It affects both genetic expression and environmental opportunities.
Flashcard 29: Which concept explains how environment influences genetic expression?
Answer: Gene-environment correlation. When genes and environment mutually influence each other.
Flashcard 30: What is the definition of a gene-environment interaction?
Answer: It is when genetic predisposition modifies response to environmental factors. Different genotypes respond differently to the same environment.