PSYC 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Foxp2, Ke Family, Speech Repetition
19 Nov 2016
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Module 3.1
October 4, 2016
NATURE: Behaviour Genetics & Evolutionary Psychology
Innate constraints on behaviour
Behaviour Genetics
• Individual differences
o Due to genetic differences
• Mutations not differentially affected by natural selection
Evolutionary Psychology
• Universal commonalities
o Due to genetic similarities
• Mutations that conferred a reproductive advantage to all
Behaviour genetics
Terminology
• Genotype: genes
• Phenotype: observable characteristics, the way we identify
• Chromosomes: 23 pairs total
o Autosomes: 22 pairs, same in M and F
o Sex: 1 pair (XX or XY)
• Genes: paired; one from each parent
o Dominant: one gene sufficient
o Recessive: both genes necessary
Genes & Behaviour
• One approach:
o Identify a specific behavioural (phenotypic) abnormality
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o Look for a corresponding
genotypic abnormality
The KE family
• English family
o half suffer from a speech &
language disorder
KE phenotype Compare affected to
unaffected
• speech –repetition
o esp. multi-syllabic non-words
(e.g., sastelgint)
• why non-words?
• orofacial motor control
o open mouth wide & stick out tongue
• language
o grammar problems
• strutural/futioal rai aoralities…
KE genotype
• Genetic or Environmental?
o Why affect one sibling & not another?
o 53% KE; less than 3% of population
• Single gene or Multiple genes?
o Multiple: varying degrees of disability
o Single: disability or no-disability
KE genotype
• Autosomal or Sex
o Males & females equally affected
• Dominant or Recessive?
o Affected children only had one affected parent
Finding the mutated gene
• Genome scan of affected and unaffected KE family members
o pointed to a broad locus on chromosome 7
• Unrelated person with similar disorder
o break in chromosome 7 in middle of KE locus
o break disrupted gene FOXP2
• Analyze FOXP2 in affected KE
o revealed mutation
Interpreting Gene-Behaviour link
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• language is so much more than just speech
• FOXP2 is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression during brain development (esp.
motor control centres)
• Why is KE disorder specific to speech, mouth control, & language?
o Clues fro other speies…
FOXP2 in other species
• Songbirds
o expression associated with song learning
o nuclei in brains grow and shrink depending on when it is needed to learn the songs
• Echolocating bats
o FOXP2 different than in non-echolocating
o The mutation of FOXP2 determines the interpretation of sound
• Mice
o knockouts have reduced vocalizations
o make sounds that humans at hear, if the FOXP2 is removed, vocalization is
compromised
FOXP2 & language evolution?
• Human version different than chimpanzee
• Neanderthal
o DNA extracted from bones (cave in Spain)
o FOXP2 same as in humans
EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
George Costanza & the tip jar
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=george+costanza+and+the+tip+jar&&view=detail&mid=2B303
50C15BBC0D90C732B30350C15BBC0D90C73&FORM=VRDGAR
• Why was it so important that the calzone chef see George leaving a tip?
- Validation, reputation
o There are certain things that we all have in common that are products of natural
selection
o Reproductive advantage to those who have it
Reciprocal Altruism
• How pure are our motives when we do nice things for other people?
• A cynical view of human nature- it is very rare
• Help those in need and they are obligated to return favour when you are in need
• Do not help someone who has failed to reciprocate in the past
• Consequences for human behaviour:
o Important to be recognized for deeds
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find more resources at oneclass.com
