PSYC 1020H Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Noam Chomsky, Language Acquisition Device, Human Genome Project
14 Dec 2013
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Document Summary
Evolutionary psychology- a field of psychology emphasizing evolutionary mechanisms that may help explain human commonalities in cognition, development, emotion, social practices, and other areas of behaviour. Behavioural genetics- an interdisciplinary field of study concerned with the genetic bases of individual differences in behaviour and personality. Genes- the functional units of heredity; composed of dna and specify the structure of proteins. Chromosomes- within every cell, rod-shaped structures that carry the genes. Dna (deoxyribonucleic acid) - the chromosomal molecule that transfers genetic characteristics by way of coded instructions for the structure of proteins. Composed of bases a,t,c,g adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine. Genome- the full set of genes in each cell of an organism (except for sperm and egg cells) Human genome project in 2000- about 3 billion units of dna- combinations of a,t,c,g. Nativists (nature) emphasize genes and inborn characteristics. Edward thorndike- in the actual race of life the chief determining factor is heredity . Empiricists (nurture) focus on learning and experience.
