Deck 4: Genes, Evolution, and Behaviour

Question 1

Carol has average size hands for a woman.Her mother has rather large hands and her father relatively small hands for a man.Carol's sister says Carol has a combination of the large and small hands resulting in Carol's medium hand size.Carol has studied genetics in school and knows this is not true because specific traits are passed on,not _______________ ones.

A) physical
B) mutated
C) blended
D) adaptive

Answer 1

blended

Question 2

Polygenic transmission occurs when:

A) a single phenotypic characteristic is determined by the interaction between several gene pairs.
B) a gene determines the expression of the trait it controls when its gene partner is recessive.
C) a gene determines the expression of the trait it controls when its gene partner is dominant.
D) a gene directly determines the expression of the trait it controls.

Answer 2

a single phenotypic characteristic is determined by the interaction between several gene pairs.

Question 3

Unlike the blueprints for a house,a person's genetic blueprint is not observable.Identical twins may have the same genotype but given different environmental influences,their ________ may be quite unique.

A) heritability
B) DNA
C) characteristics
D) phenotype

Answer 3

phenotype

Question 4

Recombinant DNA procedures refer to the process in which:

A) chromosomes are transplanted within a single organism.
B) pieces of DNA from several organisms are put together and allowed to divide and copy in a new organism.
C) a specific gene is altered is such a way that it prevents it from carrying out its normal function.
D) the dominant or recessive qualities of a particular gene are changed.

Question 5

The portion of the chromosome that carries the specific hereditary units of information are called:

A) genes.
B) phenotypes.
C) polygenic transmissions.
D) heritability coefficients.

Question 6

Brad has blue eyes and his wife has brown eyes.Both of their children have brown eyes.Their eldest son,Mike,marries a woman with blue eyes,and they are now expecting their first baby.Is it possible for the child to be born with blue eyes?

A) Yes,Mike may carry the recessive gene for blue eyes
B) Yes,as with any child,there is a possibility for either eye colour occurring
C) No,as long as one parent has brown eyes the child will have brown eyes
D) No,Brad would not be carrying the recessive blue eye gene

Question 7

Two people both have the dominant genes for brown hair but one has light brown hair and the other has dark brown hair.This difference reflects differences in ______.

A) concordance
B) genotype
C) phenotype
D) heritability coefficient

Question 8

All cells in the human body have the same number of chromosomes except for _______________.

A) glial cells
B) brain cells
C) sex cells
D) nerve cells

Question 9

Which of the following statements about genetic transmission from parents to offspring is true?

A) 46 chromosomes from the egg combine with 46 chromosomes from the sperm.
B) 23 chromosomes from the egg combine with 23 chromosomes from the sperm.
C) The dominant genes tend to come from the egg.
D) The dominant genes tend to come from the sperm.

Question 10

When multiple gene pairs combine to influence the expression of a single phenotypic trait,it is called:

A) dominant transmission.
B) phenotypic transmission.
C) genotypic transmission.
D) polygenic transmission.

Question 11

When sperm fertilizes an egg,the new cell has:

A) 46 genes.
B) 23 genes.
C) 46 chromosomes.
D) 23 chromosomes.

Question 12

The specific genetic makeup of an individual is referred to as the:

A) genotype.
B) phenotype.
C) polygenetic transmission.
D) recombinant DNA.

Question 13

Even though a female may have the gene for blue eyes in her chromosomes,it is possible that she may actually have brown eyes because this particular characteristic is recessive.Instances like these most clearly demonstrate the distinction between:

A) chromosomes and genes.
B) chromosomes and genotype.
C) phenotype and chromosomes.
D) phenotype and genotype.

Question 14

A dominant gene is one that:

A) interacts with multiple gene pairs to determine the expression of a single phenotypic characteristic.
B) determines the expression of the trait it controls when its gene partner is also dominant.
C) determines the expression of the trait it controls only if its gene partner is recessive.
D) directly determines the expression of the trait it controls.

Question 15

Every cell in the human body except one type has:

A) 46 genes.
B) 46 chromosomes.
C) 23 genes.
D) 23 chromosomes.

Question 16

A chromosome is:

A) synonymous with the term "gene."
B) a coiled molecule of DNA that is covered by protein.
C) the portion of the gene that carries the hereditary blueprint.
D) recombinant DNA.

Question 17

Kelsey knows she has many athletic abilities she has not developed partly because she lacks the motivation to do so.One might say these abilities are part of her ____.

A) phenotype
B) genotype
C) phylotype
D) chromosomes

Question 18

The observable characteristics produced by a particular genetic endowment are called ___________.

A) concordance
B) genotype
C) phenotype
D) heritability coefficient

Question 19

Both of Bob's parents have blue eyes.Bob carries the dominant gene for blue eyes,yet his eyes are brown.This means that the gene for blue eyes would be considered:

A) polygenic.
B) phenotypic.
C) recessive.
D) dominant.

Question 20

Sex cells are different from all other cells in the human body because they:

A) have no alleles.
B) are involved in polygenetic transmission.
C) have twice the number of chromosomes as regular cells.
D) have half the number of chromosomes as regular cells.

Question 21

The heritability coefficient is highest for which of the following human characteristics?

A) conscientiousness
B) height
C) intelligence
D) impulsivity

Question 22

Recombinant DNA procedures have been used to produce human growth hormone that has been used to treat children who are abnormally short.The results of the research examining the impact for these children is that:

A) they achieved average height at adolescence.
B) they achieved slightly above average height at adolescence.
C) they achieved slightly below average height at adolescence.
D) they did not achieve sufficient increases in height by adolescence.

Question 23

While genetic engineering gives humans potential control over heredity and evolutionary processes,there is a key question with respect to the use of genetic engineering?

A) Can these findings on animals be meaningfully applied to humans?
B) Is it moral/ethical to manipulate genetic makeup?
C) Is this research of significant value to test these techniques on animals?
D) Does the research show that these techniques actually produce any lasting changes?

Question 24

Siblings have a certain percentage of chance of sharing the same gene with one another.This percentage of chance is _____.

A) 50 percent
B) 100 percent
C) 25 percent
D) 5 percent

Question 25

Dizygotic twins share a certain percentage of their genetic endowment with their parents.This percentage of genetic endowment is ____________.

A) 100 percent
B) 50 percent
C) 25 percent
D) 75 percent

Question 26

Of the list below,genetically speaking,which pair of individuals is most alike?

A) Two brothers who are fraternal twins
B) A brother and sister who are fraternal twins
C) Two brothers who are identical twins
D) Two sisters who are fraternal twins

Question 27

The gene knockout procedure refers to the process of:

A) artificially suppressing the function of the immune system.
B) preventing neurons from firing by inhibiting reuptake.
C) altering an individual gene such that its normal function is prevented.
D) flooding the body with stress hormones so that a gene goes into temporary shock.

Question 28

The procedure in which an individual gene is altered to prevent it from carrying out its normal function is called the:

A) recombinant procedure.
B) gene knockout procedure.
C) polygenic procedure.
D) elimination procedure.

Question 29

An animal researcher inserts into the body of a mouse a genetic substance that is designed to prevent neurons from responding to dopamine.The researcher then observes the mouse to determine the impact of the absence of dopamine on the mouse's behaviour.This researcher has just utilized what is called the:

A) knockout procedure.
B) elimination procedure.
C) recombinant procedure.
D) polygenic procedure.

Question 30

While the gene knockout procedure has been shown to result in changes in behaviour,interpretation of the findings of this procedure must be made carefully since:

A) very little behaviour is controlled by only one gene
B) the behaviour change is typically not permanent
C) this research has elicited a host of ethical and moral issues
D) there is little application of this research on animals with respect to humans

Question 31

A grandchild has a certain percentage of chance of sharing any single gene with his or her grandparents.This percentage of chance is _____.

A) 50 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 100 percent
D) 10 percent

Question 32

Techniques in which pieces of DNA from an organism are combined with DNA from other organisms and then allowed to proliferate in a new host organism are called:

A) recombinant DNA procedures.
B) genotypic DNA transmission.
C) heritability procedures.
D) polygenic transmission.

Question 33

The heritability coefficient for intelligence is .50.This means that:

A) 50 percent of the variation in the intelligence of an individual is related to genetic factors.
B) 50 percent of the variation of intelligence between groups of people is related to genetic factors.
C) 50 percent of the variation of intelligence within a group of people is related to genetic factors.
D) 50 percent of the variation of intelligence in a group of people is related to environmental factors.

Question 34

The heritability coefficient is used to estimate:

A) the extent to which variation in a group of people can be accounted for by genetic factors.
B) the extent to which variation in a group of people can be accounted for by environmental factors.
C) the probability that a person will share a given gene with his or her parents.
D) the probability that a person will share a given gene with a sibling.

Question 35

Studies comparing the similarity of identical and fraternal twins who are raised together and apart are especially informative because:

A) they tell us about the relative importance of the environment and genetic factors.
B) they tell us only about the importance of the environment.
C) they tell us only about the importance of genetic factors.
D) they tell us what genes may be responsible for the occurrence of twins.

Question 36

Which of the following procedures have been used to produce human growth hormone?

A) gene knockout
B) polygenic transmission
C) recombinant DNA
D) inheritance transmission

Question 37

The probability of a child sharing any particular gene with his or her parents is:

A) 0.05
B) 0.25
C) 0.50
D) 1.0

Question 38

Which of the following is one of the methods used in recombinant DNA research?

A) Antigens are artificially added to the body to stimulate the immune system.
B) Weak electrical currents are used to regrow damaged neurons.
C) Cells with nerve growth factor are implanted to repair severed spinal cord neurons.
D) Enzymes are used to cut the long threadlike molecules of genetic DNA into pieces.

Question 39

The extent to which variation among a group of people can be attributed to genetic factors is estimated by the:

A) polygenic coefficient.
B) genetic coefficient.
C) correlation coefficient.
D) heritability coefficient.

Question 40

Adoption studies have found that people with schizophrenia are:

A) more similar to their adoptive parents than to their biological parents.
B) more similar to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents.
C) equally similar to their biological and adoptive parents.
D) not similar to either their biological parents or their adoptive parents.

Question 41

One problem with studying identical and fraternal twins raised together or apart is that:

A) Often twins raised apart have very similar environments.
B) Identical twins that are raised together may be treated more similarly than fraternal twins,which could account for their greater behavioural similarity.
C) Fraternal twins may be male and female whereas identical twins are always either both male or female.
D) There is no control over the environments of twins who are raised apart.

Question 42

What do we currently know about the specific sizes of reaction ranges for individuals?

A) We do not know if the size differs from one person to the next
B) We do know that the size differs from one person to the next
C) We know that,generally,women have larger reaction ranges than men
D) We know that,generally,men have larger reaction ranges than women

Question 43

Barbara and Brenda are identical twins who were adopted at birth and raised by two different families.Andy and Andrew are identical twins raised together by their biological parents.When the four children entered high school they took an IQ test.Barbara and Andy each had scores of 110,while Brenda's IQ was measured at 120 and Andrew scored 108.These results support which of the following conclusions?

A) intelligence is influenced by the environment only in extreme conditions
B) intelligence is almost entirely shaped by the environment except when rare genetic disorders are involved
C) intelligence is shaped by genetics as well as environmental influences
D) intelligence is entirely determined by genetics

Question 44

Scott and Shawn are identical twins raised together,whereas Tammy and Tracey are identical twins raised apart.Scott and Shawn are more similar on IQ than are Tammy and Tracey.This finding:

A) rules out a purely genetic explanation for IQ
B) rules out a purely environmental explanation for IQ
C) suggests that environment is not important for determining IQ
D) suggests that genetics are not important for determining IQ

Question 45

A genetically determined trait may have an upper and lower limit,and the environment may determine the exact level of the trait that ultimately gets expressed.This is referred to as the concept of ______.

A) genetic potential
B) reaction range
C) concordance
D) gene knockout

Question 46

Which of the following statements regarding the similarity of IQ between twins is FALSE?

A) The correlation for identical twins raised together is higher than identical twins raised apart.
B) The correlation for identical twins raised apart is higher than fraternal twins raised together.
C) The correlation for fraternal twins raised together is higher than siblings raised together.
D) The correlation for fraternal twins raised together is higher than identical twins raised apart.

Question 47

Twin studies have consistently revealed that the factor that accounts for the least amount of variation in personality trait attributes is:

A) genetics.
B) family environment.
C) school experiences.
D) social interactions.

Question 48

Based on Hans Eysenck's work on genetic components of personality,research has shown that the personality trait neuroticism is related to increased action of the neurotransmitter _______.

A) acetylcholine
B) dopamine
C) norepinephrine
D) serotonin

Question 49

In general,which statement below best summarizes the outcome of the role of heredity and environment as they affect intelligence:

A) Heredity,not environment,is most important in determining intelligence
B) Environment,not heredity,is most important in determining intelligence
C) Heredity and environment are equally important in determining intelligence
D) Heredity and environment interact in determining intelligence

Question 50

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a factor contributing to the differences in personality traits in identical twins?

A) genetics
B) family environment
C) school experiences
D) social interactions

Question 51

Keith and Kirk are identical twins who were separated at birth and raised in different parts of the country in different environments.When as adults they were reunited,researchers compared them on several psychological characteristics.Compared to identical twins that have been raised together,Keith and Kirk probably have:

A) even more characteristics in common than if they were raised together
B) the same level of similarity from those raised together
C) fewer characteristics in common because of different environmental influences
D) as much in common on their psychological characteristics had they been fraternal twins

Question 52

An adoption study examining the heritability of criminal behaviour found that people who had biological parents and adoptive parents who both had criminal records were the most likely to be criminals themselves.This example was presented to demonstrate:

A) the influence of genetic factors on criminal behaviour.
B) the influence of environmental factors on criminal behaviour.
C) how genotype and phenotype can interact to produce behaviour.
D) how the environment and genetic factors can interact to produce behaviour.

Question 53

Although genetic factors are considerably important,they appear to account for about a certain percentage of the IQ variation within a group.This percentage ranges from _________________.

A) 80 to 90
B) 50 to 70
C) 30 to 50
D) 20 to 30

Question 54

The reaction range principle suggests that genetics sets the upper and lower limits for a trait and _________ indicates where in that range a particular trait will fall.

A) concordance
B) environment
C) phenotype
D) genotype

Question 55

Though presently there is no quantifiable way to determine the reaction ranges of various intelligence-related traits,research on environmental enrichment programs and adoption studies suggest that the ranges could be:

A) 20 to 30 IQ points.
B) 4 to 6 IQ points.
C) 7 to 10 IQ points
D) 15 to 20 IQ points.

Question 56

Researchers who believe in the concept of a reaction range are most likely to argue that intelligence is:

A) the product of the interaction between genetics and the environment.
B) the product of many separate but correlated individual mental abilities.
C) most strongly determined by genetic factors.
D) most strongly shaped by environmental factors.

Question 57

According to the notion of a reaction range for intelligence,if Dean has a reaction range that is equivalent to Shannon's and Shannon has experienced a considerably more enriched environment compared to Dean,who would have a higher intelligence score?

A) Dean would have a higher intelligence score.
B) Shannon would have a higher intelligence score.
C) They would have the same intelligence score since the reaction range is the same.
D) They would have the same intelligence score since an enriched environment only influences intelligence outside of the reaction range.

Question 58

If intelligence was completely determined by genetics,then which set of correlations would be the same?

A) Between identical twins vs.between fraternal twins
B) Between identical twins vs.between any two siblings
C) Between fraternal twins vs.between any siblings
D) Between a parent and a child vs.between identical twins

Question 59

Twin studies have found that some psychological traits,such as intelligence,have a notable genetic contribution.This can be concluded from what evidence?

A) the similarity of identical twins is greater when they are reared apart than when they are reared together.
B) the similarity of fraternal twins raised together is greater than the similarity of identical twins raised apart.
C) the similarity of identical twins raised apart is greater than the similarity of fraternal twins raised apart.
D) the similarity of identical twins is essentially equal to that of fraternal twins.

Question 60

An adoption study examined the heritability of criminal behaviour in boys adopted at a young age.The level of boys' criminality was greatest when _______.

A) both biological and adoptive fathers had criminal records
B) neither biological nor adoptive fathers had criminal records
C) only biological fathers had criminal records
D) only adoptive fathers had criminal records

Question 61

In the Minnesota Twin Study,genetics accounted for a percentage of the variation among people in personality trait scores.This percentage range was __________.

A) 39-58
B) 15-20
C) 22-31
D) 74-95

Question 62

If our ancestors' mental abilities increased in parallel with an increase in brain size,why has the size of our brain not continued increasing?

A) the human skull is currently as large as the exoskeleton will support
B) factors other than the brain also determine human capabilities
C) although humans continue to evolve,language,memory,and attention are fully developed
D) this evolutionary mechanism is still at work;it just evolves more slowly than previously thought

Question 63

Genetic variation enables natural selection to work because:

A) individuals who have a variation that enables them to adapt to the environment are more likely to survive
B) individuals who have a neutral variation are more likely to survive
C) individuals who inherit a dominant trait are more likely to survive
D) individuals who are not able to adapt to their environment are more likely to pass on some form of genetic variation to their offspring

Question 64

The genes that are associated with dyslexia have likely caused:

A) subtle changes in brain development.
B) sex-linked behaviours.
C) changes in visual processing.
D) intellectual impairment.

Question 65

From an evolutionary perspective,attaining positions of dominance and selecting mates may be attributed to the personality traits of ________________ helpful in.

A) extraversion and emotional stability
B) conscientiousness and agreeableness
C) openness and conscientiousness
D) agreeableness and openness

Question 66

Research conducted with twins indicates that genetic factors appear to account for approximately 39 to 58 percent of the variation in personality traits,while unique or individual environments account for about _________.

A) 12 to 21 percent
B) 26 to 36 percent
C) 51 to 61 percent
D) 36 to 56 percent

Question 67

Evolutionary personality theorists speculate the personality traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness may have played an important role in:

A) maintaining relationships.
B) group survival.
C) mate selection.
D) problem solving.

Question 68

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a human behaviour related to innate evolved mechanisms?

A) basic emotions that are universally recognized
B) the ability to acquire any spoken language
C) the responsiveness to pictures of human faces
D) all children eventually learn to read

Question 69

One innate,evolved trait of humans is the preference that newborns have for:

A) Pictures of human faces as compared to animal faces
B) Pictures of faces as compared to a random pattern of facial features
C) Pictures of animals as compared to pictures of human faces
D) Pictures of animals as compared to a random pattern of animals body parts

Question 70

According to the Minnesota Twin Study,which of the following factors was least important in determining personality?

A) genetics
B) emotional climate in the home
C) unique individual experiences
D) experiences at school

Question 71

Genetic factors are especially important in the development of dyslexia in:

A) individuals with a high IQ.
B) males.
C) individuals with a low IQ.
D) females.

Question 72

Certain basic personality traits that are found across all cultures may have evolved to help us achieve which two overriding goals?

A) establishing cooperative relationships and mate selection
B) establishing positions of dominance and reproduction of the species
C) reproduction of the species and physical survival
D) physical survival and social contacts

Question 73

The global appearance of the five basic personality traits is due to the fact that these traits increased our chances for survival and reproduction.This belief is postulated by the ___________.

A) social learning theory
B) social cognitive theory
C) evolutionary personality theory
D) cognitive-affective personality theory

Question 74

Natural selection refers to

A) the change over time in the frequency with which particular genes occur within a species
B) several genes combining their influence to create a single phenotypic trait
C) the in-born tendencies that enable us to adapt to our environment
D) characteristics that are likely to increase our chances of survival which are more likely to be preserved in a species

Question 75

Though the research by Vernon at the University of Western Ontario and Jang at the University of British Columbia showed that attitudes toward things like reading books and participating in organized sports showed the greatest heritability rates,the researchers cautioned that:

A) it's not likely the case that specific genes cause these attitudes but that certain characteristics make individuals more likely to prefer these activities.
B) their sample was small and unique in that the participants were raised in a community that had a significant number of opportunities for participation in a wide array of activities.
C) not all behaviours are directly affected by genes as was the case for the behaviours studied in this study were.
D) the study has yet to be replicated with other sets of twins in other parts of the world.

Question 76

Evidence for heritable components in dyslexia have been found in _______________ studies.

A) behaviour genetics
B) molecular genetics
C) PET studies
D) fMRI studies

Question 77

Support for innate evolved mechanisms is illustrated by the finding that:

A) the specific language children learn depends on the language to which they are exposed.
B) infants are born with the ability to learn any language.
C) smiling is recognized as an expression of happiness only in some cultures.
D) infants develop a preference for certain human faces over time.

Question 78

The change over time in the frequency with which particular genes occur within an interbreeding population is referred to as:

A) polygenic transmission
B) evolution
C) natural selection
D) dominant transmission

Question 79

All EXCEPT which one of the following is involved in reading aloud:

A) visual processing
B) cognition
C) auditory processing
D) motor ability

Question 80

Domain-specific adaptations refer to adaptations related to:

A) Achieving skills in a particular domain like language learning.
B) Solving particular problems like learning what is safe to eat.
C) The growth of particular parts of the brain over time.
D) Using logical reasoning to real life problems.