Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Promiscuity, Homo Erectus, Neuroticism

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Heredity involves passing on of specific organic factors not just blending of parent"s characteristics. Genotype: the specific genetic makeup of an individual. Phenotype: the observable characteristics produced by the genetic endowment. Can be affected by other genes and by environment. Chromosome: tightly coiled molecule of deoxyribonucleic avid (dna), partly covered by protein. Dna portion carries hereditary blueprint in units called genes. Every cell in body except one has 46 chromosomes. At conception, 23 from egg and 23 from sperm combine to make new cell called. Genes: segments of dna that contain instructions to make proteins building blocks of life. Genes from each chromosome occur in pairs. Off spring receive one of each pair from each parent. Alleles: alternative forms of a gene that produce different characteristics. Each individual gene carries code for a specific protein, when activated, cell. As protein levels within a neuron change, corresponding change in function of produces specified protein neuron and neural circuits.