PSYC 3404 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Human Hair Color, Genetic Variation, Gene Expression
Document Summary
Natural selection as a driving force for genetic changes over time. Species wide adaptations versus individual genetic variation. Individuals that survive to adulthood and reproduce pass more of their genetic traits to the next generation. Genes that aid adaptation and survival will be passed on frequently that genes do not. Some traits aid adaptation to a specific environment more than others. Amongst members of a species, individuals have the most important genes in common. Hair color and texture, eye color and shape, skin color, and variation, height, weight, preferences, abilities. Neutral traits are generally not selected for or against. Bits and pieces of each chromosome are switched and recombined during reproduction so the child"s chromosomes are not exactly the same as the parents". Generally have equal amount of genes in common with siblings as you do with parents (half) Sequences tell body what to do to make amino acid chain. Chain of amino acid folds together to form a protein.