PNB 2XC3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Sociobiology, Naked Mole-Rat, Phenotype

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• Course: PNB 2XC3
• Professor: Reuven Dukas

Document Summary

Artificial selection: defines as the process of humans deliberately choosing certain varieties of an organism over others by implementing breeding programs that favour one variety over another. Natural selection: leading to extraordinary variation- including behavioural variation-that we see in nature. Experiment ongoing from the late 1950"s: a team of russian scientists have been systematically chose the tamest, most docile foxes from a population of foxes in siberia. Tested over 40k foxes, only allow the tamest to breed and become parents. Produced foxes that can be held and petted, and also seek out human contact. Nature is a selective agent, traits, including behavioural traits, increase or decrease in frequency as a function of how well they suit organisms to their environments. If a trait helps them survive and reproduce better in their environment. Phenotype: typically defines as the observable properties of an organism. Genotype: an individual"s genetic makeup, the way a particular genotype manifests itself in the environment.