Deck 2: The Biology of Development

Question 1

The picture below illustrates:

A) chain reactions
B) genetic ripples
C) a landscape of canalization
D) regulatory cascades

Answer 1

regulatory cascades

Question 2

In most organisms, the long DNA molecules are stored in the cell nucleus as tightly wound, highly compact:

A) alleles
B) chromosomes
C) genes
D) lysosomes

Answer 2

chromosomes

Question 3

Janine is a violinist.Her brain differs in certain ways from a nonmusician; she has increased cortical representation of the fingers of the left hand.This is an example of:

A) compensation plasticity
B) experience-dependent plasticity
C) learned plasticity
D) musical plasticity

Answer 3

experience-dependent plasticity

Question 4

What does a heritability of .9 for height mean?

A) Ninety percent of a specific person's height is caused by her genes.
B) Ninety percent of a specific person's height is caused by her environment.
C) Ninety percent of a specific person's height is caused by the interaction of her genes and environment.
D) The differences in height across the whole population are 90 percent attributable to genetic variations between that population's members.

Question 5

Several genes influence human skin color.This is an example of:

A) heterozygous inheritance
B) homeobox inheritance
C) pleiotropic inheritance
D) polygenic inheritance

Question 6

Which is a possible base pair?

A) adenine and cytosine
B) adenine and thymine
C) thymine and cytosine
D) thymine and guanine

Question 7

All of the following act as teratogens EXCEPT:

A) environmental toxins
B) infectious diseases
C) maternal exercise
D) prescription drugs

Question 8

While pregnant, Juana is exposed to a teratogen known to affect the heart of the developing organism.The effects will likely be most severe if the exposure occurred during the:

A) period of the zygote
B) embryonic period
C) fetal period
D) third trimester

Question 9

________ refers to the ways that the genetic information is expressed or manifested in an organism, including its anatomical structures and behaviors.

A) Autosomy
B) Genotype
C) Phenotype
D) Zygosity

Question 10

Molecular biologists refer to the sequence of bases that make up genes as having two main parts.The ________ sequence directs the assembly of particular proteins.

A) functional
B) amino acid
C) regulatory
D) structural

Question 11

Researchers fed male mice either a normal diet or a low-protein diet.Mice on either diet were then mated with females raised on a normal diet.What should the researchers expect to find about the resulting offspring?

A) Offspring of males fed the normal diet will demonstrate a marked increase in activation of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis.
B) Offspring of males fed the low protein diet will not demonstrate a marked increase in activation of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis because their mothers were fed normal diets.
C) Offspring of males fed the low protein diet will demonstrate a marked increase in activation levels of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis as a result of paternal diet.
D) The offspring's diet alone, and not parental diet, influences activation levels of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis.

Question 12

All of the following are true of genes EXCEPT:

A) genes are the inherited instructions for producing the proteins that make up cells
B) genes are the inherited instructions for regulating whether other genes will be turned on or off
C) the genetic material of animals may differ in fundamental structure
D) a gene is made up of a section of DNA

Question 13

Margaret consumes a large amount of alcohol throughout her pregnancy.Her son is born with fetal alcohol syndrome.All of the following are associated with this condition EXCEPT:

A) large head
B) missing ridges under the nose
C) thin upper lip
D) widely spaced eyes

Question 14

________ refers to a phenomenon in which the fetus is sometimes able to slow down the rate of growth when it senses environmental stresses and drops in nutrition.

A) Conservation hypothesis
B) Parsimonious genotype hypothesis
C) Sparing nutrient hypothesis
D) Thrifty phenotype hypothesis

Question 15

________ are ordered clusters of genes that turn on and off genes that affect the general body plan in many species.

A) Activator genes
B) Homeobox genes
C) Homologs
D) Suppressor genes

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true?

A) A particular allele's unique characteristics may only be expressed in certain contexts.
B) Differences never arise between the genotype of an organism and its phenotype.
C) Genotype is the sole determinant of phenotype.
D) Genes have the same effects regardless of environmental conditions.

Question 17

Lucian grew up in a Romanian orphanage under conditions of severe deprivation.All of the following statements are true of extremely deprived children such as Lucien compared to typically developing children EXCEPT:

A) smaller overall brain size
B) less myelination
C) reduced pruning
D) reduced physiological activity

Question 18

Matilda was born in 1960.Her mother took the drug thalidomide while pregnant, which adversely affected Matilda's limb growth.Thalidomide is an example of a(n):

A) homeobox
B) illegal drug
C) teratogen
D) trigger substance

Question 19

Which of the following is not one of the chemical bases of DNA?

A) adenine
B) guanine
C) meyline
D) thymine

Question 20

Brush turkeys are born on the ground and need to fend for themselves soon after birth, whereas songbirds are born in nests and trees and are protected.These different local environments are referred to as:

A) biological addresses
B) differential nests
C) environmental niches
D) localized adaptations

Question 21

The period of the embryo begins at about ________ after conception.

A) 30 hours
B) 9 weeks
C) 2 weeks
D) 3 months

Question 22

From the ninth week until birth, the growing human organism is referred to as a(n):

A) embryo
B) fetus
C) neonate
D) zygote

Question 23

When during prenatal development does a primitive brain appear?

A) at conception
B) around 2 weeks
C) around 4 weeks
D) around 9 weeks

Question 24

Stanley inherits one allele for normally pigmented skin and one allele for albinism.Stanley would not display albinism because the allele for albinism is:

A) codominant
B) dominant
C) recessive
D) submissive

Question 25

________ refers to the unique process of cell division that produces the egg and sperm cells.

A) DNA replication
B) Gametization
C) Meiosis
D) Mitosis

Question 26

During which period of prenatal development does the heart begin to beat?

A) the period of the zygote
B) the period of the embryo
C) the second trimester
D) the third trimester

Question 27

A researcher is examining skin cells.These cells were created through the process of:

A) crossing-over
B) gastrulation
C) meiosis
D) mitosis

Question 28

Waddington described changing cells undergoing a process of ________ through which they get committed to becoming certain types.

A) canalization
B) commitment
C) methylation
D) myelination

Question 29

Alicia has Turner syndrome.Which of the following traits/conditions would Alicia be UNLIKELY to exhibit?

A) infertility
B) missing female sex characteristics
C) tall stature
D) drooping eyelids

Question 30

________ control the timing of major anatomical developments.

A) Chronometric genes
B) Heterochronic genes
C) Horological genes
D) Temporal genes

Question 31

The textbook categorizes all of the following as key constraints shaping development EXCEPT:

A) the differentiation of cell types and anatomical structures
B) the integration of cell types and anatomical structures
C) the continuous need for viability of the developing organism
D) the timing of when genes are switched on or off to produce developing cells and structures in particular sequences

Question 32

Lucinda inherits one allele for type A blood and one allele for type O blood.She would have type A blood because the allele for type A is:

A) codominant
B) dominant
C) heterozygous
D) recessive

Question 33

Ehrendiera inherits one allele for type A blood and one allele for type B blood.She has type AB blood.This is an example of:

A) codominance
B) heterozygosity
C) joint alleles
D) polygenic inheritance

Question 34

Immediately following conception, the fertilized egg is known as the:

A) blastocyst
B) embryo
C) gamete
D) zygote

Question 35

________ lead(s) to changes in gene expression without changes to DNA sequences.

A) Epigenetic regulation
B) Feedback loops
C) Genetic parameterization
D) Regulatory cascades

Question 36

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding sperm cells?

A) Sperm cells are also known as gametes.
B) Sperm cells are produced by mitosis.
C) Sperm cells have only one of each type of chromosome.
D) Sperm cells provide half of the genetic material during fertilization.

Question 37

Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder, which is caused by a defect in the single gene.There are numerous effects of this disorder including mental retardation, eczema, and pigment abnormalities.That one gene affects many traits is an example of:

A) heterozygous genes
B) homeobox genes
C) pleiotropic genes
D) polygenic genes

Question 38

Down syndrome is most likely the result of which genetic condition?

A) monosomy 13
B) monosomy 21
C) trisomy 21
D) X linked inheritance

Question 39

Jerome receives the allele for facial dimples from both his mother and father.Jerome is said to be ________ for facial dimples.

A) codominant
B) dizygotic
C) heterozygous
D) homozygous

Question 40

Demetrius has an extra X chromosome.His condition is referred to as:

A) Klinefelter syndrome
B) monosomy X
C) Turner syndrome
D) XYY syndrome

Question 41

In the human embryo, structures vaguely resembling gills emerge early but transform into facial muscles, middle ear bones, and other structures.This seems to support which hypothesis?

A) ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny
B) phylogeny recapitulates ontogeny
C) cephalocaudal development recapitulates proximodistal development
D) proximodistal development recapitulates cephalocaudal development

Question 42

All of the following are main processes involved in the development of neurons EXCEPT:

A) action potentiation
B) consolidation
C) migration
D) myelination

Question 43

Heavily myelinated bundles of axons in the brain are called:

A) glial cells
B) black matter
C) gray matter
D) white matter

Question 44

William is a veteran who has experienced a traumatic brain injury.This injury has affected his language, organizational capacity, and regulation of emotion.Which region of the brain is most likely affected by the injury?

A) frontal lobe
B) occipital lobe
C) parietal lobe
D) temporal lobe

Question 45

________ are the gaps between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another.

A) Glial gaps
B) Growth cones
C) Nodes of Ranvier
D) Synapses

Question 46

________ is a fatty substance that coats the axon and speeds message transfer.

A) Axtol
B) Glial
C) Myelin
D) Neural tubing

Question 47

Neural structures can be pruned through programmed cell death, or:

A) apoptosis
B) myelination
C) synaptogenesis
D) synaptic pruning

Question 48

Which brain structure is likely to be the last to develop?

A) basal ganglia
B) medulla
C) prefrontal cortex
D) somatosensory cortex

Question 49

Certain cells might first differentiate into three general groups: cells that can form muscles, organs, or bones.At first the cells in the muscle group can become any kind of muscle but later they specialize to form particular parts of specific muscles.This illustrates:

A) cellular narrowing
B) neurulation
C) plasticity
D) successive differentiation

Question 50

Having a right and left kidney, right and left ear, and right and left arm are all examples of:

A) unilateral symmetry
B) bilateral symmetry
C) unilateral proportionality
D) bilateral proportionality

Question 51

Some unspecialized cells develop into brain cells before birth.This is an example of ________ development.

A) antenatal
B) natal
C) prenatal
D) postnatal

Question 52

Which lobe of the brain is involved in processing and interpreting touch sensations and integrating visual and spatial information?

A) frontal lobe
B) occipital lobe
C) parietal lobe
D) temporal lobe

Question 53

Allen and Harold are twins with nearly identical genotypes.These brothers can be described as ________ twins.

A) conjoined
B) monozygotic
C) dizygotic
D) fraternal

Question 54

As an infant, Macie develops arm control before leg control.This is an example of:

A) antedistal development
B) bilateral development
C) cephalocaudal development
D) proximodistal development

Question 55

The cerebrum includes all of the following EXCEPT:

A) basal ganglia
B) cerebral cortex
C) cerebellum
D) olfactory bulb

Question 56

Which of the following is FALSE regarding premature infants?

A) Preterm birth is associated with a greater risk of a number of irregularities in brain development.
B) Preterm birth is associated with a range of cognitive difficulties.
C) The more immature the preterm infant is at birth, the higher the risk of medical problems just in infancy but not in childhood and beyond.
D) Even with advances in medical technologies, preterm birth is still a cause of concern for parents, physicians, and psychologists.

Question 57

The brainstem is concerned with all of the following EXCEPT:

A) breathing
B) coordination of voluntary movement
C) heart rate
D) swallowing

Question 58

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding communication between neurons?

A) Neurons send messages to one another by releasing neurotransmitters from the dendrites.
B) Communication between neurons occurs at synapses.
C) There are several types of neurotransmitters, and each neuron's receptors respond to particular types.
D) Chemical signals can cause the receiving neuron to "fire," creating an electrical signal called an action potential.

Question 59

Which of the following is FALSE regarding risk factors for preterm births?

A) Several forms of physical stress can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth.
B) Several forms of psychological stress can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth.
C) Only infections close to the uterus, and not infections far removed from the uterus (for example, dental infections) can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth.
D) Smoking during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth.

Question 60

The blastocyst's middle cell layer, the mesoderm, will eventually form all of the following EXCEPT the:

A) nervous system
B) skeleton
C) internal organs
D) muscles

Question 61

Explain the landscape of canalization.

Question 62

Which is the most plausible explanation for the increase in risk taking during adolescence?

A) There is a lack of successful campaigns about drug abuse and sexual risk taking.
B) There is a 40 percent drop in the total number of synapses in the frontal lobes from late childhood to adulthood.
C) Gray matter volume decreases in areas associated with sensory and motor functions.
D) There is increased sensitivity to reward cues from the striatum, which overrides control circuits from the prefrontal cortex.

Question 63

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding synaptic pruning?

A) Synaptic pruning only follows apoptosis.
B) Synaptic pruning seems to extend into adolescence and early adulthood.
C) Genetic factors influence the process of synaptic pruning.
D) Environmental factors influence the process of synaptic pruning.

Question 64

Describe the structure of DNA.

Question 65

How do the frontal lobes change during the teenage years?

Question 66

Describe the structure of a neuron.

Question 67

Nancy is pregnant with her first child.What factors in Nancy's daily life and environment will influence her baby's prenatal environment?

Question 68

Define experience-dependent plasticity and provide an example of this concept.

Question 69

Differentiate between genotype and phenotype.

Question 70

Madison is 11 years old.In the coming years, which part of her brain will experience dramatic changes?

A) frontal lobe
B) occipital lobe
C) parietal lobe
D) temporal lobe

Question 71

Outline the hallmarks of the embryonic period.

Question 72

Which of the following statements is true of neurogenesis?

A) Neurogenesis only occurs prenatally.
B) Neurogenesis only occurs postnatally.
C) The same numbers of neurons are produced before and after birth.
D) Fewer neurons are produced after birth than during the prenatal period.

Question 73

Describe the concept of environmental niche and provide an example.

Question 74

Describe dominant-recessive inheritance and provide an example.

Question 75

List the major risk factors for preterm birth.

Question 76

Differentiate between meiosis and mitosis.

Question 77

Differentiate between pleiotropic and polygenic genes.

Question 78

What does the phrase "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" mean?

Question 79

Naomi is considering participating as a client in the Nurse-Family Partnership Program.Describe the program for her, noting possible advantages.