CHYS 2P10 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Theodosius Dobzhansky, Developmental Science, Fallacy
14 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Dr. Tony Volk
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Class Business
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Debates begin next week
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Remember some debate tips and rules
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CHYS 2P10 Child Development
Explains everything other than the origins
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Diversity of function of all living things
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Biology begins with evolution
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Breadth and scope of theory- “Nothing in Biology makes sense except in the light of Evolution” -
Theodosius Dobzhansky
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Everything is a theory- never 100% sure
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Evolution is a theory that explains the diversity and function of all living things
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Evolution is a theory, but so is gravity (better evidence for evolution than gravity
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No evidence do disprove evolution
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What is evolution?
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Evolutionary Developmental Science
Animals changed
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Darwin was interested in explaining the wide variety of lifeforms that existed
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Lamarkianism: animals adapt to their environment and pass that adaptation on to their
children
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Earlier theories existed –e.g., Lamarkianism (inherit traits that change during lifespan; e.g., lifting
weights will give you stronger children)
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Darwin came up with the theories of natural and sexual selection
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If survival is in your genes your offspring will benefit
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Some will be better at surviving than other
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1.More offspring are born than survive to reproduce
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2.Individual vary on different traits
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3.Certain traits are more likely to pass on offspring (via genes)
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4.Offspring likely inherit those traits
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5.Environmental conditions have changed, leading to new species
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Five Components of Darwin’s Evolution by Natural Selection
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Charles Darwin
To pass on your genes
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We know the biological meaning of life!
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It is simply to pass on one’s genes to future generations
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The Meaning of Life
Wrong choices of words
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Survival of the fittest –fitness in biology means # offspring; evolution is really survival of those
who produce the most successful lineages
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Group selection –evolution acts at the level of the individual, not the species
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Statistical artifact
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Evolution progresses from simple to complex life forms
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Evolutionary Fallacies
This requires more resources to maintain these “fit” bodies
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So they only produce 2 children
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10X better at competing
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Ultrahealthy, live to 200 years of age!
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Requires fewer resources to maintain these “unfit” bodies
Poor health, live only to 50 years
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Fit vs. Unfit
Week 3: Genes and Neural Development
CHYS 2P10 Page 1
Requires fewer resources to maintain these “unfit” bodies
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So they can also produce 2 children
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Evolution seeks whatever is best on passing genes not physical or intellectual perfection
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5 year olds are weaker, and make the herd weaker on average
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“Dies for the good of the species” at 4
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Produces 1 child/yr
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Old zebra are 4-5 years old
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If he escapes, can breed, but his presence makes herd weaker avg.
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Says “Screw dying!”
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Lives to age 5
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Individual turns 5 and sees lions charging
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Group vs. Individual
Evolution has a goal –it moves towards ever more complex forms of life
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Works for individuals not species
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Evolution is random –a mutation is as likely to retreat from greater complexity as it is to move
towards it
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More complex forms of life are better
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One in four animal species are beetles!
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“Higher” and “Lower” Organisms
According to Tooby & Cosmides, E.P.
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Unique to a particular area and function
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1.Involves domain-specific mechanisms
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2.That are at least partly inheritable
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Adapted today to solve yesterday's problems
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3.That solved problems in the E.E.A. (the past evolutionary environment)
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Note that this allows for experience, nurture, and culture to influence the cognitive mechanisms
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Evolutionary Psychology
Doesn’t typically reveal specific cognitive mechanisms; it’s more of a guide than a manual
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Hunter gatherers culture
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Depends on accurate guesses based on limited information about E.E.A.
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Just-so stories
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Individuals are adapted to work with their environment
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Too simplistic –ignores human culture and other environmental factors
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Critiques of E.P.
Aggressive
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Men- higher level of testosterone
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Deterministic Fallacy - if someone is evolved, or in our genes it can’t be change
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WRONG! - e.g., male aggression
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Naturalistic Fallacy - if something is evolved, or comes from nature, it must be morally good
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WRONG! - e.g., war
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Evolutionary Pitfalls
47%
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Genes don’t get passed one
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Going to be a strong evolutionary pressure
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Children aren't adults in waiting but adapt in childhood
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Crucial part of evolution
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~50% of children died before adulthood!
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Surviving childhood was thus a crucial evolutionary pressure
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Therefore, childhood is an adaptation in and of itself (e.g., limited attention, poor
metaknowledge, curiosity, attachment, play, etc.)
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Childhood is an Adaptation
Both heredity and environment influence individuals’ characteristics
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Genes: The Interplay of Heredity and Environment
CHYS 2P10 Page 2
Document Summary
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