PSYC 228 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Conditioned Taste Aversion, Methyl Group, Visual Acuity
Document Summary
Silences" the gene/makes it inactive if the methyl group is sitting on the gene. Methyl group present: silences gene for creating receptors; poorer regulation of stress. Methyl group absent (demethylized): allows receptors to be created; better regulation of stress. At birth, methylation is equal in high lg and low lg pups. By day 6, demethylation has occurred in high lg pups only: thus, more receptors; better stress response system. Any functional change in the genome that does not involve an alteration in dna sequence. Effect of gene will vary with environment: environment affects gene activity. Traits most apparent to be selected are adaptive for each stage of development. Infants poor visual acuity: newborns have very immature brains that are easily overstimulated, taste aversion learning, eating something, becoming violently ill, and not wanting to eat that again, rat pups don"t show this. Increased exploration in toddlerhood: risk-taking in adolescence. Coded in your genes, didn"t require any experience.
