Question 1

Robert is out for a walk in the woods when he sees two male deer charging at each other,butting heads,and locking antlers.Robert knows that the winner of this fight will be more likely to mate with the nearby female deer.This fight is an example of

Accepted Answer

This fight is an example of intrasexual selection, which refers to competition between members of the same sex (in this case, male deer) for access to mates. The winner of the fight is more likely to mate with the nearby female deer, increasing his chances of passing on his genes to the next generation.

Question 2

Which part of the neuron is responsible for manufacturing proteins?

Accepted Answer

The cell body, or soma, is responsible for manufacturing proteins through a process called protein synthesis. The other parts of the neuron (axon, dendrites, axon terminals) are primarily involved in transmitting signals to other neurons.

Question 3

To date,which of the following traits has been the most evidently adaptive for humans?

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response has been crucial for human survival as it allows individuals to quickly respond to potential threats and increase their chances of survival. Hiccups are a reflex that serves no clear purpose, schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder, and red hair does not provide any notable adaptive advantage.

Question 4

Aaron is working at his job as an editor of a science magazine when a reporter places an article on his desk entitled "Gene for Optimism Found." To avoid confusing the readers about the actual scientific findings,how could Aaron change the title?

Accepted Answer

This title accurately reflects the scientific findings without oversimplifying or confusing the readers. It states that the gene in question is a factor in optimism, rather than the sole determinant of optimism, and avoids making any unsupported claims about the importance or necessity of the gene.

Question 5

A researcher is studying factors that influence political beliefs (conservative or liberal).She finds that adopted children are more likely to share their political beliefs with their adoptive parents than their biological parents.Which of the following should she conclude?

Accepted Answer

The fact that adopted children are more likely to share their political beliefs with their adoptive parents than their biological parents suggests that political beliefs have low heritability, meaning that genes have little influence on political beliefs.

Question 6

Gi works in a laboratory that identifies which genes are present among individuals with particular traits.The goal of the lab is to understand how specific genes are related to behaviour.Gi likely works in which field?

Accepted Answer

Gi is working in a laboratory that is identifying genes related to behavior. Therefore, Gi is most likely working in the field of behavioral genomics, which studies the relationship between an individual's genes and their behavior. Eugenics involves selective breeding to improve genetic characteristics, while DNA phenotyping is the process of predicting physical traits based on genetic information. Psychobehavioral genetics may be a related field, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the given information.

Question 7

Neurons are

Accepted Answer

Neurons are specialized cells that are responsible for sending and receiving information throughout the nervous system. They communicate with each other through electrochemical signals, allowing us to think, feel, move, and respond to our environment. Options A, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of neurons.

Question 8

Peahens are more attracted to (and thus,more likely to mate with)male peacocks with brightly coloured plumage.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Peahens choosing mates based on the brightness of the peacock's feathers is an example of intersexual selection, where one sex chooses a mate based on specific traits that are attractive to them. This can drive the evolution of exaggerated traits in males as they compete to be chosen by the opposite sex.

Question 9

Organisms that express traits conducive to survival are more likely to mate and pass on those traits than organisms that do not possess the same favourable traits.This concept is known as

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the question is natural selection. Natural selection is the process by which organisms with advantageous traits or characteristics have a greater likelihood of surviving, reproducing, and passing on those traits to their offspring. Over time, this leads to the evolution of species as those with less favourable traits gradually die out. The other choices are related to this concept, but they do not specifically describe the mechanism by which certain traits are favoured or passed on through generations.

Question 10

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

It is common for the same gene to be a risk factor for multiple disorders. This is known as pleiotropy. Many genes have multiple functions in the body, and variations in those genes can lead to different disorders with seemingly unrelated symptoms. Additionally, some disorders have complex genetic causes involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Therefore, it is rare for a single gene to be the sole determinant of a trait or disease.

Question 11

Which part of the neuron typically receives messages from other neurons?

Accepted Answer

Dendrites typically receive messages from other neurons.

Question 12

Which of the following is a limitation associated with behavioural genomics?

Accepted Answer

Most traits and diseases are controlled by multiple genes and interactions between genes and the environment. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely predict phenotypes based solely on genomic information.

Question 13

The branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons are called

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are the branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons. Axons are the long, slender projections of a neuron that transmit nerve impulses to other cells. Axon terminals are structures at the end of an axon that release neurotransmitters into a synapse. Synapses are the small gaps between neurons where communication occurs.

Question 14

The ___________ is the central region of the neuron that contains genes responsible for synthesizing the proteins that allow the neuron to function.

Accepted Answer

The central region of the neuron that contains genes responsible for synthesizing the proteins that allow the neuron to function is called the soma, also known as the cell body. It is responsible for maintaining the neuron's structure and metabolism. The myelin sheath is an insulating layer surrounding some neurons, dendrites are extensions that receive signals from other neurons, and the axon is a long projection that transmits signals to other neurons.

Question 15

If a trait has high heritability,then adopted children are more likely to share the trait with

Accepted Answer

If a trait has high heritability, it means that a significant proportion of the variation in that trait is due to genetic factors. Therefore, adopted children are more likely to share the trait with their biological parents, as they share genetic material with them, rather than their adoptive parents or siblings, who do not have the same genetic makeup. Similarly, other children of the same age range may have varying degrees of genetic similarity, so the best predictor of the trait would be biological relatedness.

Question 16

What does heritability of .37 indicate about a specific trait?

Accepted Answer

Heritability refers to the proportion of variation in a trait that is attributed to genetic differences within a population. A heritability of .37 indicates that 37% of individual differences in the trait can be attributed to genetic factors within the population. Therefore, the best choice is D. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of heritability.

Question 17

___________ are responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body.

Accepted Answer

Neurons are responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body. Glial cells provide support and protection for neurons, neurotransmitters are chemicals that help neurons communicate with each other, and dendrites are branch-like structures on the neurons that receive messages from other neurons.

Question 18

Researchers have found that the male advantage in mental rotation tasks is related to

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that testosterone levels are positively correlated with performance on mental rotation tasks, and that men tend to have higher levels of testosterone than women. This suggests that the male advantage in mental rotation tasks may be partially explained by biological factors.

Question 19

The multi-generational change in the frequency of genes within an interbreeding population is known as

Accepted Answer

Multi-generational change in gene frequency within a population refers to the phenomenon of evolution, which is driven by various factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.

Question 20

Which best describes the current understanding of sex differences in cognitive abilities?

Accepted Answer

There is ongoing debate about whether sex differences in cognitive abilities are genetic or the result of cultural and environmental factors, as research has provided evidence for both. It is generally recognized that there are some cognitive differences, but the extent to which these are biologically determined and how much is due to environmental factors is still being studied. Option A and C are incorrect as there is some evidence of sex differences in cognitive abilities, and option D is incorrect as cultural and environmental factors can certainly play a role in these differences.

Quiz 3: C: Biological Psychology