Chapter 2- Physiological Bases of Behavior and Heredity

Important Terms in Heredity

Heredity- the passing on of traits from parent to offspring
Genetics- the science of heredity, concerned not only with the
resemblance of offspring to parent, but also with the
differences between them.

5.

Chromosome- the hereditary material arranged into tiny

bodies; carries of genes.
Genes- portions of chromosome that determine hereditary
traits
DNA- a threadlike like bodies of complex biochemical found in
the nucleic of living cells
Mitosis- a process of cell division, wherein each chromosome
duplicates, exact copies of the original going to each new cell.
Meiosis- reduction division; a process of cell reduction of
chromosome
Cloning- the production of genetically identical copies of
individual organism
Gamete- an egg or sperm cell which contains only half of the
number of chromosomes
Genotype- set of alleles for a given organism
Phenotype- the observable traits of the organism
Alleles- the paired genes from each egg and sperm cell
Dominant gene- qualities dominate the phenotype of the
organism; a heterozygous allele (hybrid)
Recessive gene- qualities recede and not observable; a
homozygous allele
The Principles of Heredity
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2.
3.

Chromosomal Aberrations
Down syndrome
Characteristics
Children with Down syndrome have one extra chromosome.
Physical characteristics include a protruding tongue, thick lips,
flat nose, short neck, wide gaps between toes, short fingers,
specific health problems, and risks for heart problems and
hearing loss. Mental retardation can range from mild to severe.
Children often have good visual discrimination skills and may
be better at understanding verbal language than producing it.
Implications for Care
Provide explicit instruction in any delayed skills (e.g., in
language). Address health issues such as heart problems and
potential feeding difficulties.
Klinefelter Syndrome
Characteristics

Segregation and Dominance- when a pair of

organism reproduces sexually, their offspring
randomly inherit one of the two alleles from each
parent. Each individual oragnism has two genes that
together control the expression of a given trait.
Independent Assortment- the alleles of different
genes get shuffled between parents to form offspring
with many different combinations.
Linkage and Cross Over-the two pairs of genes are
on the same pair homologous chromosomes and stay
together during sexual recombination.
a. Traits controlled by linked genes will appear
together in the F2 (second filial generation)
and frequently in successive generations.
b. Linked genes do not always appear together
because genes originally linked are
separated during meiosis by a process
called crossing over.
Crossing over- the separation of
homologous pair of chromosomes
during synapsis and exchange
places
Synapsis- a condition wherein the
two chromosome pair line up
beside each other

4.

6.

containing an X- chromosome unites with a female

gamete, a female organism
is produced. If a
male gamete containing a Y- chromosome unites with
a female gamete, a male organism is produced. The
male parent, therefore, determines the sex of the
offspring.
Sex LinkageTraits controlled by genes found on
X and Y chromosomes are said to be sex linked.
Traits may be exhibited in the successive generations
in different ways that traits controlled by other genes.
Sex linked traits are more common in men than in
women.
Interaction of Genes- The genes in an organism
interact. One gene may affect many traits, and one
trait may be determined by many genes.

Sex determination- Half of the human male gametes

contain X- chromosomes, and half contain Ychromosomes. During fertilization, if a male gamete

Only boys have Klinefelter syndrome; they have one Y

chromosome and two X chromosomes. Diagnosis may not
occur until adolescence, when testes fail to enlarge. Affected
boys tend to have long legs, to grow modest breast tissue,
a/1d to remain sterile. They tend to show lower than average
verbal ability and some speech and language delays.
Implications for Care
Offer an enriched verbal environment. Medical treatment may
be given to support development of male sexual
characteristics.
Turner Syndrome
Characteristic
Only girls have Turner syndrome; they have one X
chromosome and are missing the second sex chromosome.
Affected girls have broad chests, webbed necks, short stature,
and specific health problems. They do not show normal sexual
development. They may show normal verbal ability but lower
than average ability in processing visual and spatial
information.
Implications for Care
Provide instruction and support related to visual and spatial
processing. Hormone therapy helps with bone growth and
development of female characteristics.