Deck 2: Biological Beginnings

Question 1

In the context of evolutionary psychology, Albert Bandura (1998) acknowledged that

A) "one-sided evolutionism" is primarily used to explain social behavior.
B) evolutionary pressures created changes in biological structures.
C) evolution dictated behavior.
D) social behavior is strictly a product of evolved biology.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true of evolutionary developmental psychology?

A) Many evolved psychological mechanisms apply only to a specific aspect of a person's psychological makeup.
B) The mind is a general-purpose device that can be applied equally to a vast array of problems.
C) All behaviors that were adaptive for our prehistoric ancestors serve us well today.
D) Evolution has not impacted human development.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The nucleus of each human cell contains ________, which are threadlike structures made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

A) mitochondria
B) ribosomes
C) chromosomes
D) mesosomes

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to life-span developmentalist Paul Baltes (2003), the benefits conferred by evolutionary selection decrease with age. Natural selection has not weeded out many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics that appear among older adults. Why?

A) Degeneration aids in the transmission of desirable traits to future generations.
B) Natural selection operates primarily on characteristics that are tied to reproductive fitness.
C) Human evolution has no effect on previous generations.
D) Evolved mechanisms are always adaptive in contemporary society.

Question 5

Paul Baltes says that natural selection among humans operates mainly during the ________ of life.

A) second half
B) last years
C) first half
D) first year

Question 6

According to life-span developmentalist Paul Baltes (2003), the benefits conferred by evolutionary selection ________ with age.

A) increase
B) stay the same
C) decrease
D) fluctuate

Question 7

________, the units of hereditary information, are short segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). They help cells to reproduce themselves and to assemble proteins.

A) Genes
B) Chromosomes
C) RNA
D) Ribosomes

Question 8

Psychology's newest approach, ________, emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and "survival of the fittest" in shaping behavior.

A) behavioral psychology
B) humanistic psychology
C) cognitive psychology
D) evolutionary psychology

Question 9

Red-feathered and blue-feathered birds occupy the same environment. The birds with the red feathers are better able to survive and avoid predators. This means that the population of red-feathered birds will increase in future generations. This illustrates the process of

A) genetic selection.
B) natural adaptation.
C) natural selection.
D) genetic survival.

Question 10

If a baboon learns to eat different kinds of fruit instead of relying on only one kind for its nutritive needs, we would argue that this behavior promotes its survival. Thus, the behavior is

A) adaptive.
B) aggressive.
C) dominant.
D) submissive.

Question 11

As an alternative to "________ evolutionism" presented in evolutionary psychology, Albert Bandura proposed a ________ view.

A) bidirectional; unidirectional
B) one-sided; bidirectional
C) dynamic; linear
D) balanced; biased

Question 12

The food-scarce environment of our ancestors likely led to humans' propensity to gorge when food is available and to crave high-caloric foods, a trait that might lead to an epidemic of obesity when food is plentiful. This illustrates how

A) socialization influences the development of behavior and cognitive skills in human beings.
B) evolved mechanisms are not always adaptive in contemporary society.
C) organisms pass on characteristics they acquire during their lifetime to their offspring.
D) the benefits of evolutionary selection decrease with age.

Question 13

In the context of evolution and life-span development, which of the following statements is true of Paul Baltes (2003)?

A) He believed natural selection weeded out all nonadaptive characteristics appearing among older adults.
B) He held that the benefits conferred by evolutionary selection increased with age.
C) He believed natural selection occurred primarily during the first half of life.
D) He held that natural selection operated on characteristics tied to mental fitness.

Question 14

A fertilized human egg cannot grow into a crocodile, duck, or fish specifically because of

A) social influence.
B) environmental influence.
C) adaptive behavior.
D) genetic code.

Question 15

________ is a complex molecule with a double helix shape, like a spiral staircase, and contains genetic information.

A) RNA
B) A chromosome
C) DNA
D) A ribosome

Question 16

Evolution takes place

A) over the course of many generations.
B) almost immediately.
C) when a species is ready for it.
D) because of active attempts at change on the part of a species.

Question 17

According to Paul Baltes, as the benefits of evolutionary selection decrease with age, the need for ________ increases.

A) environmental pressure
B) reproduction
C) job training
D) culture

Question 18

________ are the building blocks of cells as well as the regulators that direct the body's processes.

A) Genes
B) Proteins
C) Ribosomes
D) DNA

Question 19

According to evolutionary developmental psychologists, many evolved psychological mechanisms are ________. That is, the mechanisms apply only to a specific aspect of a person's psychological makeup.

A) domain-specific
B) maladjusted
C) non-operational
D) unconditional

Question 20

________ introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection in 1859.

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Charles Darwin
C) Stephen Hawking
D) Wilhelm Wundt

Question 21

Which of the following is true of mitosis?

A) Mitosis is the cellular reproduction that occurs to form the sperm and the egg cells.
B) Mitosis results in the formation of four new cells.
C) Mitosis results in the formation of two new cells with 23 pairs of chromosomes.
D) Mitosis results in the formation of three new cells.

Question 22

A cell that contains 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs undergoes the process of ________ to produce two new cells, each containing the same DNA as the original cell, arranged in the same 23 pairs of chromosomes.

A) mitosis
B) osmosis
C) meiosis
D) fertilization

Question 23

Scientists have found that certain genes become turned on or off as a result of exercise mainly through a process called ________, in which tiny atoms attached themselves to the outside of a gene.

A) genotyping
B) methylation
C) glycolysis
D) hydroxylation

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true of the activity of genes?

A) Genes are not collaborative.
B) A single gene codes for a single, specific protein.
C) Genetic expression is unaffected by environmental factors.
D) Events that occur inside of the cell can excite or inhibit genetic expression.

Question 25

A cell that contains 23 pairs of chromosomes divides by mitosis to form two new cells. How many pairs of chromosomes does each new cell contain?

A) 12
B) 23
C) 6
D) 48

Question 26

________ develop from a single zygote that splits into two genetically matching replicas, each of which becomes a person.

A) Triplets
B) Identical twins
C) Fraternal twins
D) Quadruplets

Question 27

During the process of ________, a cell's nucleus-including the chromosomes-duplicates itself and the cell divides, resulting in the formation of two cells.

A) meiosis
B) osmosis
C) fertilization
D) mitosis

Question 28

During fertilization, an egg and a sperm fuse to create a single cell called a ________.

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

Question 29

Combining the genes of two parents in offspring increases ________ in the population, which is valuable for a species because it provides more characteristics for natural selection to operate on.

A) the number of males
B) the number of females
C) genetic variability
D) genetic uniformity

Question 30

Melody and Harmony are identical twins. This means that they developed from

A) a single egg that was fertilized by a single sperm.
B) a single egg that was fertilized by two different sperms.
C) two eggs that were fertilized by a single sperm.
D) two eggs that were fertilized by two different sperms.

Question 31

Except for the sperm and the egg, all cells in the human body have ________ chromosomes.

A) 10
B) 32
C) 23
D) 46

Question 32

In the context of approaches to gene identification and discovery, ________ refers to the vast increase in genetic data generated at a much reduced cost and in a much shorter period than in the past.

A) next-generation sequencing
B) linkage analysis
C) the Thousand Genomes Project
D) the genome-wide association method

Question 33

________ is a stage in reproduction whereby an egg and a sperm fuse to create a single cell.

A) Fertilization
B) Osmosis
C) Meiosis
D) Mitosis

Question 34

In the context of approaches to gene identification and discovery, ________, in which the goal is to discover the location of a gene (or genes) in relation to a marker gene (whose position is already known), is often used to search for disease-related genes.

A) the Thousand Genomes Project
B) genome-wide association
C) linkage analysis
D) next-generation sequencing

Question 35

In human beings, by the end of meiosis, each egg or sperm has ________ chromosomes.

A) 46 paired
B) 23 unpaired
C) 23 paired
D) 46 unpaired

Question 36

During ________, a cell of the testes in men or ovaries in women duplicates its chromosomes and then divides twice, thus forming four cells, each of which has only half the genetic material of the parent cell.

A) meiosis
B) mitosis
C) osmosis
D) fertilization

Question 37

Sasha's 23rd chromosome pair contains two X chromosomes. This indicates that Sasha

A) has Down syndrome.
B) has fragile X syndrome.
C) is a female.
D) is a male.

Question 38

Adam, who has a cardiovascular disease, participated in a research study to identify genetic variations linked to cardiovascular disease. His DNA, along with DNA from other patients suffering from the same cardiovascular disease, was obtained. For the purpose of comparison, the researchers also took DNA samples from participants who did not have the disease. Each participant's DNA was assessed to determine markers of genetic variation. The researchers found that genetic variations occurred more frequently in people who had the cardiovascular disease. This led them to pinpoint the region in the human genome linked to the disease. Which of the following approaches to gene identification and discovery did the researchers use in this study?

A) next-generation sequencing
B) linkage analysis
C) the Thousand Genomes Project
D) the genome-wide association method

Question 39

Jule's 23rd chromosome pair consists of an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. This indicates that Jule

A) has Down syndrome.
B) has XYY syndrome.
C) is a female.
D) is a male.

Question 40

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs to form

A) split zygotes.
B) extra chromosomes.
C) somatic cells.
D) eggs and sperm.

Question 41

Carrie's parents have brown hair. However, Carrie gets genes for blond hair from both of her parents, and as a result she has blond hair. This indicates that the gene for blond hair is a

A) recessive gene.
B) dominant gene.
C) susceptibility gene.
D) longevity gene.

Question 42

________ genes are those that make an individual more vulnerable to specific diseases or accelerated aging.

A) Susceptibility
B) Longevity
C) Vulnerability
D) Mutated

Question 43

For each genotype, a range of ________ can be expressed, thus providing a source of variability.

A) genetic imprints
B) phenotypes
C) karyotypes
D) monotypes

Question 44

In some cases of genotypic expression, one gene of a pair always exerts its effects overriding the potential influence of the other gene. This is the ________ principle.

A) sex-linked genes
B) dominant-recessive genes
C) genetic imprinting
D) polygenic inheritance

Question 45

Jerome and Tyrone are fraternal twins. This means that they developed from

A) a single egg that was fertilized by a single sperm.
B) a single egg that was fertilized by two different sperms.
C) two eggs that were fertilized by a single sperm.
D) two eggs that were fertilized by two different sperms.

Question 46

A recessive gene exerts its influence only if both genes of a pair are

A) recessive.
B) complementary.
C) conditional lethals.
D) dominant.

Question 47

Vanda's genetic heritage comprising her actual genetic material makes up her

A) phenotype.
B) metabolome.
C) genotype.
D) proteome.

Question 48

A(n) ________ gene overrides the potential influence of a recessive gene.

A) longevity
B) dominant
C) susceptible
D) aggressive

Question 49

Carla has brown hair, and her husband also has brown hair. However, Carla's son is born with blond hair. This most likely indicates that Carla's son

A) inherited the dominant genes for blond hair.
B) inherited the recessive genes for blond hair.
C) has a susceptibility gene.
D) has a longevity gene.

Question 50

Erin, a 90-year-old, is healthy and leads an active lifestyle. Most of her relatives have lived to an old age. Researchers have found that Erin's family carries genes related to stress resistance, immunity, and metabolism that help extend life by repairing and protecting body tissues. In this scenario, which of the following genes is most likely responsible for Erin living to an old age?

A) susceptibility genes
B) longevity genes
C) complimentary genes
D) mutated genes

Question 51

Marly describes her friend Gina as having blond hair, green eyes, and fair skin with freckles. Marly has described Gina's

A) genotype.
B) genetic imprint.
C) phenotype.
D) X-linked inheritance.

Question 52

________ is the way an individual's genotype is expressed in observed and measurable characteristics.

A) RNA
B) DNA
C) A phenotype
D) A stereotype

Question 53

Clark's eyes are brown in color. However, both his parents have eyes that are blue in color. According to the dominant-recessive genes principle, the most likely reason for Clark's eyes being brown in color is that

A) Clark's grandparents had brown-colored eyes.
B) Clark has a mutation in his genotype resulting in the change in eye color.
C) Clark's family history shows that the family has a dominant gene for brown-colored eyes.
D) Clark's parents are carriers of genes contributing to brown eyes.

Question 54

________ genes are those that make an individual less vulnerable to certain diseases and more likely to live to an older age.

A) Susceptibility
B) Longevity
C) Vulnerability
D) Mutated

Question 55

While studying a sample for height differences, researchers observed that the height of the participants varied significantly regardless of whether the participants' parents were short or tall. This suggests that the physical characteristic of height is most likely an example of

A) niche-picking.
B) X-linked inheritance.
C) genetic imprinting.
D) polygenic inheritance.

Question 56

Phenotypes include ________ and ________ characteristics.

A) physical; environmental
B) conscious; subconscious
C) biological; ecological
D) physical; psychological

Question 57

Carla is diagnosed with breast cancer. She informs her doctor that her mother and her grandmother have also had breast cancer. The doctor explains to Carla that she has specific genes that make her more vulnerable to breast cancer and that she is genetically predisposed to develop the disease. In this scenario, these genes are known as

A) susceptibility genes.
B) conditional lethal genes.
C) complementary genes.
D) duplicate genes.

Question 58

A mistake by the cellular machinery, or damage from an environmental agent such as radiation, may produce a ________, which is a permanently altered segment of DNA.

A) susceptibility gene
B) vulnerability gene
C) longevity gene
D) mutated gene

Question 59

Emma and Anna are identical twins who were adopted by different families a few weeks after their birth. Although genetically identical, they grew up with different physical and psychological characteristics. For example, though both inherited a tendency to grow large, Anna was slim and athletic because of the active lifestyle practiced in her adoptive family. This variability can be explained by how

A) each zygote is unique.
B) longevity genes can make an individual less vulnerable to certain diseases.
C) for each genotype, a range of phenotypes can be expressed.
D) mutated genes can be a source of genetic variability.

Question 60

Ethel is 50 years old but appears much more aged. Most of Ethel's relatives have not lived past the age of 60. Which of the following genes are responsible for the accelerated aging observed in Ethel and her family members?

A) susceptibility genes
B) longevity genes
C) vulnerability genes
D) mutated genes

Question 61

Which of the following statements about Turner syndrome is true?

A) Turner syndrome occurs exclusively in females.
B) People with Turner syndrome have extremely poor verbal ability.
C) Males with Turner syndrome are short in stature and have webbed necks.
D) Turner syndrome occurs in approximately 1 of every 25,000 live female births.

Question 62

Brianna goes to a doctor who specializes in identifying genetic flaws to help prevent the risk of abnormalities. This doctor is called

A) a genealogist.
B) a genetic counselor.
C) a chromosomal advisor.
D) a physiologist.

Question 63

________ occurs when the expression of a gene has different effects depending on whether the mother or the father passed on the gene.

A) Polygenic inheritance
B) X-linked inheritance
C) Genetic imprinting
D) Y-linked inheritance

Question 64

Which of the following is an example of a chromosomal abnormality that occurs when whole chromosomes do not separate properly during meiosis?

A) Down syndrome
B) hemophilia
C) Huntington's disease
D) sickle-cell anemia

Question 65

Which of the following is true of fragile X syndrome?

A) It occurs more frequently in males than in females.
B) It occurs only in females.
C) It makes a female XO instead of XX.
D) It results in XXY males.

Question 66

Which of the following women has the highest probability of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome?

A) Sarah, a 21-year-old Asian woman
B) Jane, a 41-year-old Euro-American woman
C) Ella, a 27-year-old African American woman
D) Destiny, a 38-year-old African American woman

Question 67

Tristan has a genetic disorder because of which he has an intellectual disability. His mother informs Tristan's pediatrician that Tristan has an extremely short attention span for any task. Based on Tristan's symptoms, the pediatrician is most likely to diagnose Tristan with

A) Fragile X syndrome.
B) XYY syndrome.
C) Turner syndrome.
D) Tay-Sachs disease.

Question 68

Harry is an autistic child and has a short attention span for any task. His intellectual abilities are much lower than other children his age. His pediatrician reveals that Harry has a genetic disorder due to an abnormality in his X chromosome, which has become constricted. Harry most likely suffers from

A) Turner syndrome.
B) Fragile X syndrome.
C) XYY syndrome.
D) Klinefelter syndrome.

Question 69

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is a growth disorder that is most likely a result of ________ gone awry.

A) genetic imprinting
B) polygenic inheritance
C) sex-linked genes
D) chromosomes

Question 70

Timothy's wife is having trouble conceiving a child despite reports on her reproductive fitness being normal. However, on examining Timothy, the doctor determines that his testes are undeveloped, and that he has enlarged breasts. He also observes that Timothy is unusually tall, although his parents and grandparents are of short stature. The doctor informs Timothy that these symptoms are due to Timothy having an extra X chromosome, making him XXY instead of XY. Timothy most likely suffers from

A) Down syndrome.
B) Fragile X syndrome.
C) Klinefelter syndrome.
D) Turner syndrome.

Question 71

Natasha has a short stature, although everyone in her family is tall. Unlike her family members and relatives, she has a webbed neck. She dislikes mathematics as she has difficulty understanding the subject. However, she takes part in and enjoys activities that require verbal communication. Natasha's doctor informs her parents that she is missing an X chromosome, making her XO instead of XX. The symptoms and the cause of the symptoms most likely indicate that Natasha has ________.

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

Question 72

Which of the following is true of Down syndrome?

A) It primarily occurs in African American children.
B) It occurs when genetic imprinting goes awry.
C) Its symptoms include retardation of motor and mental abilities.
D) It is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome Y.

Question 73

Jason, a 4-year-old, has an intellectual disability and has shorter limbs than other children his age. His pediatrician observes that Jason has a protruding tongue and an extra fold of skin over his eyelids. Jason's mother informs the pediatrician that she was 30 at the time of Jason's birth and that he was born with a flat skull. From this information, the pediatrician will most likely diagnose Jason with

A) Turner syndrome.
B) Klinefelter syndrome.
C) Down syndrome.
D) XYY syndrome.

Question 74

Which of the following is most likely a characteristic of persons with Klinefelter syndrome?

A) They have undeveloped testes.
B) They are usually short in stature.
C) They usually have small breasts.
D) They have an extra fold of skin over their eyelids.

Question 75

Genetic testing has found that Gary, Ben, Tara, and Matt all carry a copy of a gene for hemophilia. However, Tara, who is the only female out of the four, does not show any signs of the disease, whereas Gary, Ben, and Matt have developed the disease. In this scenario, it can be inferred that hemophilia is most likely a(n)

A) X-linked disease.
B) sex-linked chromosomal abnormality.
C) gene-linked abnormality.
D) autosomal dominant disorder.

Question 76

Which of the following conditions is due to an X-linked inheritance?

A) Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
B) hemophilia
C) Wilms tumor
D) diabetes

Question 77

Sandra excels in reading and spelling but struggles with mathematics. She is shorter than her peers and has a webbed neck. Her doctor has determined that she has one X chromosome missing. Sandra most likely has

A) XYY syndrome.
B) Fragile X syndrome.
C) Turner syndrome.
D) XXO syndrome.

Question 78

Most individuals who have X-linked diseases are males because

A) males have only one copy of the X chromosome.
B) the diseases are triggered by the male sex hormone, testosterone.
C) males have an extra Y chromosome.
D) males have an extra X chromosome, making them XXY.

Question 79

Females who have one abnormal copy of a mutated gene on the X chromosome are known as

A) inhibitors.
B) patients.
C) carriers.
D) promoters.

Question 80

Human embryos must possess ________ to be viable.

A) at least one X chromosome
B) two Y chromosomes
C) at least one Y chromosome
D) three Y chromosomes