Behavior is controlled by nervous system.

• Influenced by learning and experience.

Some genes affect behavior, drives systems.

• Genes have alleles.
• Epigenetics does not change DNA, but can change gene expression.
• Expression is as important as DNA sequences.

Gene Expression

Transcribing DNA into RNAs

• Some RNAs have structure and function and perform their job in cells w/o translation.

Wild-Type Genes

Genes the are common amongst a population.

Mutant Genes

Genes that are novel to a population.

Fixed-Action Behaviors Instinct, Innate, Impulse

Response to a stimulus without prior learning and often resistant to modification.

Behaviors evolved, selection behavioral trait that was advantageous.

Artificial Selection

Breeding for a human purpose.

Behavior can be influenced by experience.

Learning

Ability for an individual to modify behavior as a consequence or an individuals experience.

Habituation

The simplest form of learning

Desensitization / sensitization based on experiences.

Biological Determinism

This is a reductionist way of thinking that ignores the effect the environment has on gene expression.

Harmful Thinking

• Genes determine behavior verbatim.
• Used for nefarious purposes, but wrong.
• Fails b/c of the effect of epigenetics.
  • Epigenetics can change with experiences or learning.
  • Epigenetics can change gene expression and is dynamic.

Study Guide

• What are other names for fixed action behaviors?
  • Instinct, Innate, Impulse
• Give examples of fixed action behaviors …
  • Breathing.
  • Blinking in the face of danger.
• Why are they tough to change?
  • They've often evolved in our DNA to keep us safe over millions of years.
• What is the difference between non-associative and associative learning?
• What is the difference between POSITIVE and NEGATIVE associative learning?
• What is the difference between evolution and natural selection, which is the mechanism acting on individuals, and which is the overall, big picture phenomenon?
• What is the difference between natural selection vs. artificial selection?
• What is the simplest type of learning?
• How are desensitization and habituation similar? How are they different?
  • NOTE: the lab rat video says ‘habituation’ but it’s actually desensitization - why?
  • Can you think of situations, stressors, or stimuli FOR HUMANS that could be situations of desensitization, or of habituation?
• Give one example of positive associative learning. What's another names for that?
• Give an example of negative associative learning. What's another name for that?
• Links in Module: When does imprinting happen? Can this type of associative learning happen at any time in a life? Is this learned behavior easy to change or reverse? Is this a genetic behavior or the result of epigenetic modification?
• What is Epigenetics? Is it reversible? Is it caused by mutations? What does it do?
• Biological Determinism (BD) is based in genetics - what are the assumptions. What are is/are the weaknesses of this idea (hint: think epigenetics)
• Thought/Discussion as a group: What is more important concerning genes that affect behaviors: the DNA sequence A,T,C,G's (gene alleles) or the Expression of the gene (transcription & translation)?
• Thought/Discussion as a group: which is easier to change: different versions of genes or "alleles" like mutant vs. wildtype ... or your epigenome?
• Though/Discussion as a group: Genetics often deals with wildtype vs. mutant genes that cause different phenotypes or traits. What makes epigenetics different than genetics? Is it as important?