Biological Basis of Behavior
IMPORTANT: If you have not already done so, read the
Syllabus, Class page
and complete the Student Profile/Agreement
We see numerous examples of behavior every day: our friends, dogs, birds, fish, insects, etc. As we participate in various behaviors, we feel that we are making conscious decisions about what to do.
In this module we will try to determine if there could be some behaviors that are built into an animal's biology. In particular, we will look for:
- Patterns - a behavior which is shared among groups of individuals
- Mechanisms - a cause of the behavior
- Adaptations - ways in which the behavior contributes to the animal's success
We will follow the scientific process in evaluating the evidence we find.
An animal is considered biologically successful if its
behavior results in the survival and reproduction of other
individuals possessing the same genes
as it does. This kind of success most often involves
producing offspring oneself. It could also result from
promoting the survival of close relatives. A common
example is worker bees and ants which do not themselves
reproduce but contribute to the survival of their sisters.
As you read the papers on electronic reserve, be particularly attentive to:
After completing this module, you should be able to:
- Apply the scientific method to your observations (of any phenomenon)
- Articulate alternative hypotheses concerning behavioral adaptation
- Identify evidence which is relevant to your hypotheses
- Suggest an experiment which will gather evidence to distinguish among your alternative hypotheses
To complete this module, you should:
- Read the papers for "Biological Basis of Behavior" in the readings on electronic reserve.
- Open and read the hyper-text lessons for each topic in the unit, including
the links in the body of each lesson.
- Submit assignments by the dates indicated on their respective pages.
Reasons to study these topics:
- You will interact with other people at home and at work throughout your life. You will encounter domestic and wild animals time and again.
- The scientific process provides a way to gain an understanding of behavior by examining facts revealed by observation and experiment.
- Understanding behavior will give you insight into others and, thus, improve your success in dealing with people and animals.
- Looking for the facts that allow you to distinguish among alternative explanations of what you see can teach you to find the answers to important questions.
E-mail Professor Frederiksen
Northern Arizona University
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