lOMoARcPSD|64109549
Module II
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
10:05 AM
Genetics
Part of the biological psychology, which seeks to explain human thought and behavior by
studying the body.
Is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing on of genetic traits from parents to
children.
Allele - alternate forms of a gene.
E.g. the gene for height may have alleles for short, medium, and tall.
Trait - features or characteristics of a person.
E.g. hair or eye color
Dominant alleles - are observable and tend to be expressed over recessive alleles.
In Punnett squares, dominant alleles are expressed in capital letters.
Recessive alleles - only expressed when a dominant allele is not present.
In Punnett squares, they are expressed in lower case letters.
Homozygous - two copies of the same allele.
Heterozygous - two different alleles.
Phenotype - physical expression of the genotype. Sometimes someone's phenotype can tell you
the genotype (with recessive traits)
Genotype - is the genetic makeup of an individual.
A nucleus contains 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs (normally)
Human behavior is pretty complex and cannot be reduced to Punnett squares
Genes and the environment influence one another, and this co-influence can affect behavior
Information on genetics and heritability are obtained via family studies, adoption studies, and
studies of identical twins who were reared apart.
Family Studies
Examine genetic relatives to see how the closeness of genetic relationships corresponds to
various traits. It's particularly helpful to study twins.
Adoption Studies
The effects of parental behavior on children can also influence. It's done comparing children
who have been adopted vs those who haven't. We can see the effects of environment vs
genetics.
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, lOMoARcPSD|64109549
Results tend to say adopted children are more similar to their biological parents rather than
their adoptive parents.
Studies of Identical Twins Reared Apart
It is more helpful to examine instances of identical twins who did not share the same home life,
because they were raised apart.
Nervous System
It can be divided into
Sympathetic - devoted to stressful and emergency situations.
Parasympathetic - devoted to routine, calmer situations.
Additionally as central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and all nerve cells in these two areas.
PNS is made up of nerve cells and neurons everywhere else in the body. It can be divided into
Somatic - Focusing on connections with sense organs.
Autonomic - Focusing on connections with internal organs.
Neuron
Soma - the cell body, contains the nucleus
Dendrites - branching fibers that receive information and bring it into the neuron.
Axon - leaves the neuron and transmits information out, the end is called a terminal button.
Synapse - when one neuron sends information to another, point of contact between neurons.
They release neurotransmitters.
Sensory or afferent neurons - carry information from sense organs TO the brain.
Motor or efferent neurons - carry information FROM the brain to the body.
Interneurons - most common type of neurons, relay messages among sensory, motor, and other
interneurons.
Neurons function using bioelectricity.
The impulse that runs down an axon, and causes a neurotransmitter to be released at the
terminal button is called an action potential.
Action potentials begin when a stimulus changes how permeable the cell membrane is. Sodium
channels open and sodium ions go into the cell (depolarization).
Repolarization occurs when potassium ions go out of the cell.
Both happen all the way down the length of an axon.
1. Neuron is at resting potential
2. Signal is received
3. Sodium channels open (depolarization)
4. Sodium enters neuron and makes it positive.
5. Potassium channels open (repolarization)
6. Action potential runs down the length of the axon
7. Calcium channels open
8. Vesicles open, NTs are released into synapse
Downloaded by Aplus Grade ()
Module II
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
10:05 AM
Genetics
Part of the biological psychology, which seeks to explain human thought and behavior by
studying the body.
Is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing on of genetic traits from parents to
children.
Allele - alternate forms of a gene.
E.g. the gene for height may have alleles for short, medium, and tall.
Trait - features or characteristics of a person.
E.g. hair or eye color
Dominant alleles - are observable and tend to be expressed over recessive alleles.
In Punnett squares, dominant alleles are expressed in capital letters.
Recessive alleles - only expressed when a dominant allele is not present.
In Punnett squares, they are expressed in lower case letters.
Homozygous - two copies of the same allele.
Heterozygous - two different alleles.
Phenotype - physical expression of the genotype. Sometimes someone's phenotype can tell you
the genotype (with recessive traits)
Genotype - is the genetic makeup of an individual.
A nucleus contains 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs (normally)
Human behavior is pretty complex and cannot be reduced to Punnett squares
Genes and the environment influence one another, and this co-influence can affect behavior
Information on genetics and heritability are obtained via family studies, adoption studies, and
studies of identical twins who were reared apart.
Family Studies
Examine genetic relatives to see how the closeness of genetic relationships corresponds to
various traits. It's particularly helpful to study twins.
Adoption Studies
The effects of parental behavior on children can also influence. It's done comparing children
who have been adopted vs those who haven't. We can see the effects of environment vs
genetics.
Downloaded by Aplus Grade ()
, lOMoARcPSD|64109549
Results tend to say adopted children are more similar to their biological parents rather than
their adoptive parents.
Studies of Identical Twins Reared Apart
It is more helpful to examine instances of identical twins who did not share the same home life,
because they were raised apart.
Nervous System
It can be divided into
Sympathetic - devoted to stressful and emergency situations.
Parasympathetic - devoted to routine, calmer situations.
Additionally as central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and all nerve cells in these two areas.
PNS is made up of nerve cells and neurons everywhere else in the body. It can be divided into
Somatic - Focusing on connections with sense organs.
Autonomic - Focusing on connections with internal organs.
Neuron
Soma - the cell body, contains the nucleus
Dendrites - branching fibers that receive information and bring it into the neuron.
Axon - leaves the neuron and transmits information out, the end is called a terminal button.
Synapse - when one neuron sends information to another, point of contact between neurons.
They release neurotransmitters.
Sensory or afferent neurons - carry information from sense organs TO the brain.
Motor or efferent neurons - carry information FROM the brain to the body.
Interneurons - most common type of neurons, relay messages among sensory, motor, and other
interneurons.
Neurons function using bioelectricity.
The impulse that runs down an axon, and causes a neurotransmitter to be released at the
terminal button is called an action potential.
Action potentials begin when a stimulus changes how permeable the cell membrane is. Sodium
channels open and sodium ions go into the cell (depolarization).
Repolarization occurs when potassium ions go out of the cell.
Both happen all the way down the length of an axon.
1. Neuron is at resting potential
2. Signal is received
3. Sodium channels open (depolarization)
4. Sodium enters neuron and makes it positive.
5. Potassium channels open (repolarization)
6. Action potential runs down the length of the axon
7. Calcium channels open
8. Vesicles open, NTs are released into synapse
Downloaded by Aplus Grade ()
