Deck 11: Inheritance of Complex Traits

Question 1

Which of the following diseases are multifactorial?

A) cystic fibrosis
B) spina bifida
C) albinism
D) severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID)
E) All of these diseases are multifactorial.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Fingerprints are

A) not formed until the last three weeks of embryonic development.
B) unaffected by the nutrition of the mother.
C) determined entirely by genetics.
D) identical in identical twins.
E) influenced by the prenatal environment.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The numerical calculation of the same trait in both members of a pair of twins is called

A) concordance.
B) recombination.
C) monozygosity.
D) multifactorial.
E) polygenic.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In humans,obesity is

A) a multifactorial trait.
B) always easily treated with leptin.
C) a simple dominant trait.
D) entirely controlled by genetics.
E) determined by at most two genes.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about polygenic traits is FALSE?

A) Skin color is a polygenic trait.
B) One example of a polygenic trait is obesity in humans.
C) Polygenic traits typically have a bell-shaped distribution pattern.
D) Cleft palate is not a polygenic trait because an individual is either affected or unaffected.
E) The genes controlling some polygenic traits are affected by the environment.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about multifactorial traits is FALSE?

A) The phenotypic distribution of multifactorial traits is often a bell-shaped curve.
B) A multifactorial trait involves interactions of genes with the environment.
C) A wide range of phenotypes results from multifactorial traits.
D) Environmental factors such as nutrition can affect height, which is a multifactorial trait.
E) The inheritance of multifactorial traits exhibits simple dominance and recessiveness.

Question 7

The central nervous system includes the

A) spinal cord.
B) brain.
C) meninges surrounding the brain.
D) meninges protecting the spinal cord.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 8

The premise of an IQ test is that intelligence

A) is an inherited trait that is influenced by environmental factors.
B) is determined by a single gene.
C) is determined entirely by the environment.
D) cannot be expressed in a numerical form.
E) None of these are correct.

Question 9

In the case of complex traits,

A) all of the genes involved are present on the same chromosome.
B) at least three genes are involved.
C) the phenotype is determined strictly by environmental factors.
D) there can be a wide range of phenotypes.
E) the trait is never influenced by environmental factors.

Question 10

Traits that are controlled by two or more genes and environmental factors are

A) multifactorial.
B) polygenic.
C) multifaceted.
D) recessive.
E) dominant.

Question 11

Polygenic traits exhibit ____ phenotypes within a population.

A) only one
B) many
C) two
D) three
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 12

Intelligence

A) is a multifactorial trait.
B) is easily measured.
C) shows a very low concordance in MZ twins.
D) is currently determined by the size of one's head.
E) is not influenced by environmental factors.

Question 13

Scientists studying the genes controlling intelligence have

A) studied humans.
B) used animal models.
C) used recombinant DNA techniques.
D) found that Drosophila has biochemical pathways that are also found in humans.
E) All of these are true.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about treatment rights is true in the U.S.?

A) The patient can be forced to undergo treatment even if he or she does not want it.
B) A pregnant woman cannot consent to or refuse medical treatment for her fetus.
C) A parent can decide to donate his/her child's organ under the law.
D) Typically, if the person is younger (the age varies by state), his or her parents have to provide consent for them.
E) All of these are true.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about obesity is true?

A) Obesity is a complex disorder involving the interaction of many genes and the environment.
B) All humans suffering from obesity respond to leptin treatment.
C) The gene for the weight-controlling hormone is called LEP.
D) The ob mice lack receptors on their brain cells.
E) All of the genes associated with obesity are found on the same chromosome.

Question 16

All of the following are considered components to cognitive ability EXCEPT

A) size of the skull
B) spatial abilities
C) memory
D) reasoning
E) All of these are considered components of cognitive ability.

Question 17

In the case of multifactorial traits,

A) the phenotypic distribution follows no particular pattern.
B) traits are inherited in a simple dominant or recessive manner.
C) only one gene determines the phenotype.
D) environmental factors play a role in determining the phenotype.
E) All of these are characteristics of multifactorial traits.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about spina bifida is true?

A) Spina bifida (SB) is not influenced by the environment.
B) Spina bifida does not show any family clustering.
C) A gene associated with the neural tube defects has been identified in mice but no such gene exists in humans.
D) The human X chromosome contains the gene associated with neural tube defects.
E) A couple that has a child with spina bifida has an increased risk of having another child with spina bifida.

Question 19

Traits that are controlled by two or more genes are

A) polygenic.
B) dominant.
C) recessive.
D) multifactorial.
E) none of these.

Question 20

Spina bifida is a birth defect involving the ____ system and appears in the ____ month of embryonic development.

A) nervous, first
B) circulatory, second
C) circulatory, third
D) nervous, second
E) skeletal, first

Question 21

Height is an example of a multifactorial trait.

Question 22

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Problems with formation of the neural tube

Question 23

Spina bifida is a birth defect involving the nervous system.

Question 24

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Human fingerprints

Question 25

All complex traits exhibit a wide range of phenotypes.

Question 26

For pregnant females,diets deficient in folic acid have been shown to be a risk factor for spina bifida.

Question 27

A gene associated with neural tube defects has been identified in mice,but not in humans.

Question 28

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Associated with mutations in genes affecting intelligence

Question 29

Mutations in the VANGL1 gene have been associated with spina bifida.

Question 30

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Often useful to study complex traits in humans

Question 31

Patients with spina bifida have been cured using gene therapy.

Question 32

Height does not follow a bell-shaped curve population distribution.

Question 33

Eye color and fingerprints are each determined by a single gene.

Question 34

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
The presence of the same trait in both members of a pair of twins

Question 35

There are four basic types of spina bifida.

Question 36

Within a population,the typical distribution of a polygenic trait is a bell-shaped curve.

Question 37

The percentage of adults in the United States who are overweight has increased rapidly in the last 30-40 years.

Question 38

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Traits that involve interactions between genes and environmental factors

Question 39

The threshold model has been proposed to explain situations in which

A) a small number of genotypes can produce a wide range of phenotypes.
B) a wide range of genotypes can produce a limited number of phenotypes.
C) environmental factors only affect individuals.
D) a simple trait can produce a wide range of phenotypes.
E) environmental factors do not have an influence on phenotype.

Question 40

All humans suffering from obesity should respond to leptin treatment.

Question 41

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Obesity in humans

Question 42

Explain why animal models are useful for investigating complex human traits.Provide examples where research in animal models have led to subsequent findings in humans.What are some of the issues with using animal models?

Question 43

A particular trait shows a high concordance in MZ twins raised together but a lower concordance in MZ twins raised apart.What do these results indicate about genetic and environmental components controlling this trait?

Question 44

MZ (monozygotic)twins are genetically identical; DZ (dizygotic)twins share about 50% of their genes with each other.A study of 2,685 twin pairs showed that female MZ twins are six times more likely than DZ twins to have a high concordance for alcoholism.All of the twin pairs were raised together.What does this finding suggest about genetic and environmental components for alcoholism? Explain your answer.

Question 45

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Decreases risk factor for neural tube defects

Question 46

Suppose a friend of yours referred to eye color,height,and intelligence as simple traits.How would you explain the error to your friend? Why are these considered complex traits?

Question 47

If monozygotic twins demonstrate very high concordance for a trait whether they are raised together or apart,what does this suggest about the heritability of this trait? Explain your answer.

Question 48

What is the difference between simple traits and complex traits? What are polygenic and multifactorial traits?

Question 49

Even though there are only two phenotypes for cleft palate (affected or unaffected),scientists know that cleft palate is a multifactorial trait.Explain how this can be.

Question 50

MATCHING
Match the appropriate terms with the descriptions. You may choose the same answer for more than one question.
a.multifactorial trait
b.intelligence quotient
c.concordance
d.bell curve
e.monozygotic twins
f.developmental dyslexia
g.spina bifida
h.folic acid
Numerical value derived after testing