Deck 3: Evolution, Heredity, and Behaviour

Question 1

Any behaviour that aids an organism in adjusting to changing environmental conditions is said to have __________ significance

A) biological
B) ultimate
C) evolutionary
D) adaptive
E) statistical

Answer 1

adaptive

Question 2

Charles Darwin's notion of __________ evolution is the primary explanation for the changes in the genetic and physical characteristics of a population or group of organisms over time

A) natural
B) cultural
C) biological
D) adaptive
E) artificial

Answer 2

biological

Question 3

Immediate environmental events that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.

A) proximate
B) ultimate
C) evolutionary
D) situational
E) direct

Answer 3

proximate

Question 4

Evolutionary events and conditions that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.

A) evolutionary
B) proximate
C) ultimate
D) genetic
E) natural

Question 5

Human behaviour is due to

A) proximate causes only.
B) ultimate causes only.
C) both proximate and ultimate causes.
D) thoughts and emotions.
E) thoughts and memory.

Question 6

A proximate cause for the development of sexual behaviour in gerbils is __________.

A) evolutionary adaptation
B) differential testosterone exposure in the womb
C) the selective value of different mating strategies to the gerbil species
D) maternal behaviour during the immediate postnatal period
E) cultural evolution in gerbil society to allow for a variety of sexual behaviours

Question 7

Dr. Hamedi is a __________ psychologist and is part of a new subfield within psychology that studies the ways in which the development of behavioural patterns and cognitive strategies over the history of a species is related to reproduction and survival.

A) physiological
B) genetic
C) cognitive
D) developmental
E) evolutionary

Question 8

__________ is the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs and behaviour patterns common to a particular group of people

A) Society
B) Natural selection
C) Adaptation
D) Culture
E) Evolution

Question 9

Psychology's main contribution to understanding cultural phenomena is likely to involve explaining how

A) language evolved.
B) evolution has changed our behaviour as a species.
C) an organism's evolutionary history contributes to the development of behaviour patterns and cognitive strategies related to reproduction and survival.
D) thought and behaviour influence cultural adaptations to a changing environment.
E) cultural differences originated as a function of natural selection.

Question 10

Darwin's function on board the HMS Beagle was to serve as a(n)

A) ensign.
B) translator.
C) map maker.
D) naturalist.
E) psychologist.

Question 11

When sailing throughout the world aboard the HMS Beagle, Darwin spent most of his time

A) writing The Origin of Species.
B) working out the details of his theory of biological evolution.
C) conducting research on artificial selection.
D) collecting specimens.
E) preaching.

Question 12

The procedure in which animals are deliberately mated to produce offspring with certain traits is called __________ selection.

A) natural
B) artificial
C) contrived
D) synthetic
E) unnatural

Question 13

A farmer who allows only certain horses to breed with other certain horses is practicing

A) artificial selection.
B) natural selection.
C) evolutionary biology.
D) biological selection.
E) genetic cleansing.

Question 14

Darwin was struck with the idea of evolution by natural selection while he was

A) aboard the HMS Beagle.
B) in his study examining his specimens.
C) reading a book by Malthus called Population.
D) studying beak differences in South American finches.
E) arguing with his academic colleagues.

Question 15

The consequence of the fact that some animals produce more offspring than other animals of the same species is

A) evolution.
B) adaptive significance.
C) reproductive success.
D) natural selection.
E) environmental evolution.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an insight from Darwin's theory of evolution?

A) All species descend from a single common ancestor.
B) Evolution is based on natural selection.
C) Evolution is a continuous and gradual process.
D) Animal and plant communities remain static once established.
E) Evolution is a branching process.

Question 17

Natural selection is based on two premises: the environment's capacity to sustain a species is limited, producing competition and

A) the environment has a stable influence on a species' survival.
B) individuals within a species show variability in their characteristics
C) changes in cultural evolution.
D) the creation of new species through genetic mutation.
E) there is variability in the characteristics of breeding parents within a species.

Question 18

Suppose that because of a sudden change in the environment, finches with long thin beaks become better at securing food than finches with other types of beaks. Assuming that the characteristics of beaks have a genetic component, we would expect that

A) future environments for these finches will remain about the same.
B) natural selection will favour the long, thin beaked genotype.
C) finches with other beak genotypes will become extinct.
D) the number of finches with long, thin beaks will stay about the same.
E) finches with shorter beaks will find new environments to feed in.

Question 19

If wolf A bears more viable offspring than does wolf B, then we can safely say that wolf A __________ than is wolf B.

A) is more reproductively successful
B) has greater reproductive instincts
C) has a stronger sexual drive
D) is a better parent
E) is more intelligent

Question 20

The relative ability of an individual to produce viable offspring is termed

A) evolution.
B) natural selection.
C) differential reproduction.
D) reproductive success.
E) reproductive capability.

Question 21

Which of the following is LEAST likely to contribute to reproductive success in the vast majority of modern human beings?

A) intelligence
B) charm
C) wealth
D) running speed
E) attractiveness

Question 22

Members of any given animal species typically vary

A) genotypically but not phenotypically.
B) phenotypically but not genotypically.
C) neither genotypically nor phenotypically.
D) both genotypically and phenotypically.
E) more if the species is physically large, and less for smaller species.

Question 23

An organism's phenotype.is the result of

A) its genotype.
B) the influence of environmental influences and experiences.
C) the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
D) the reproductive success of its parents.
E) parenting style.

Question 24

If identical twins were to enter a foot race, which one would win?

A) The twin who inherited more genes for running from his or her parents.
B) The twin with the most genes for overall physical fitness.
C) The twin who has practiced running more.
D) The twin whose genes caused him or her to seek out a more nutritious diet.
E) The twin with the best genes for muscular development.

Question 25

The ultimate test of whether natural selection will favour a particular phenotype(and its underlying genotype) is

A) the nature of the adaptive advantage it confers on organisms.
B) whether the animal is a mammal or non-mammal.
C) how often the underlying genes express themselves.
D) whether the organism's behaviour involves feeding or reproduction.
E) whether it confers a competitive advantage over other species.

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT an important finding or implication of Peter Grant's (1986) study of finches on the Galapagos Islands?

A) Natural selection can exert noticeable effects on a species in a relatively small time period.
B) Phenotypic variation can produce selective advantages that influence the ability to survive.
C) Competition for mates among members of the same species is unaffected by the degree of phenotypic variation.
D) Ecological conditions (in this case, the weather and available food supply) can interact with phenotypical characteristics to determine survival.
E) Phenotypic characteristics that can be advantageous under specific environmental conditions can be a disadvantage when environmental conditions change.

Question 27

The term used to describe the situation in which animals of the same species strive against one another for food, mating privileges, and territory is

A) variation.
B) intraspecies rivalry.
C) "survival of the fittest."
D) competition.
E) natural selection.

Question 28

Competition may occur

A) among members of the same species.
B) among members of different species.
C) among males of the same species.
D) among both members of the same species or different species.
E) only when there is scarcity of resources and interspecies contact.

Question 29

Together, variation (at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels) and competition

A) produce evolutionary change.
B) minimize the role that natural selection has played in human evolution.
C) play only a minor role in natural selection, regardless of species.
D) act directly on an organism's genotype.
E) confer reproductive success to those species that are stronger.

Question 30

In response to global warming and the greater supply of seeds, Reale and colleagues (2003) found that red squirrels in the Yukon

A) declined in number because their reproductive patterns did not adapt.
B) gave birth two weeks earlier over a ten year period.
C) experienced greater competition from new animal species.
D) doubled the number of offspring over a two year period.
E) stored fewer pine cones due to the abundance of food.

Question 31

If you were studying the structure of genes, how they are transmitted from one generation to another and how they operate in the population, the area of study would be called

A) heredity.
B) the genome.
C) meiosis.
D) genetics.
E) cultural evolution.

Question 32

One important factor that Darwin's theory of evolution did not explain very well was

A) competition.
B) selection.
C) variation.
D) inheritance.
E) reproductive success.

Question 33

The person who first demonstrated how adaptations could be passed from one generation to the next was

A) Charles Darwin.
B) Gregor Mendel.
C) Alfred Russell Wallace.
D) Charles Lyell.
E) Raymond Cattel.

Question 34

The text suggests that one way genetics can contribute to psychology is by

A) explaining animal behaviours rather than human.
B) providing proximal rather than ultimate explanations for human behaviour.
C) providing explanations for some psychological disorders.
D) identifying the specific gene responsible for each behaviour.
E) providing ultimate rather than proximal explanations for human behaviour.

Question 35

Genes contain

A) DNA.
B) chromosomes.
C) proteins.
D) enzymes.
E) dopamine.

Question 36

DNA contains

A) genes.
B) chromosomes.
C) proteins.
D) enzymes.
E) nucleotides.

Question 37

__________ enable(s) __________ to occur.

A) DNA; chromosomes
B) Chromosomes; genetics
C) Genes; heredity
D) meiosis; protein synthesis
E) adenine; guanine

Question 38

In the human genome there are about twice as many genes as in the genome of

A) chimpanzees.
B) elephants.
C) worms.
D) whales.
E) wolves.

Question 39

The synthesis of protein molecules that regulate the biological and physical development of the body and its organs is directed by

A) different sequences of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.
B) hormones produced by different DNA combinations.
C) meiotic synthesis of enzymes.
D) ionic substances located on chromosomes 1 through 9.
E) genotypes and phenotypes.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Genes are in direct control of many behaviours.
B) Strictly speaking, there are no genes for behaviour.
C) Chromosomes are located on genes.
D) Genes govern the synthesis of proteins but not the synthesis of enzymes.
E) Genes form the basis of covert but not overt behaviours.

Question 41

At birth we inherit

A) 23 chromosomes.
B) 23 pairs of chromosomes.
C) 46 pairs of chromosomes.
D) both X and Y chromosomes from our fathers.
E) 23 pairs of chromosomes from our mothers.

Question 42

__________ are chromosomes that do NOT contain the instructions for the development of sexual characteristics.

A) Autosomes
B) Enzymes
C) Alleles
D) Genomes
E) Homosomes

Question 43

Sperm and ova

A) are created through the process of meiosis.
B) contain twice the number of chromosomes found in other body cells.
C) each contain 23 pairs of chromosomes.
D) contain genetically identical instructions for the coding of protein and enzyme sequences.
E) form to produce 46 pairs of chromosomes.

Question 44

Each sperm or ova contains __________ chromosomes.

A) 23
B) 23 pairs of
C) 46
D) 46 pairs of
E) both X and Y

Question 45

Identical twins occur when

A) two eggs are fertilized by the same sperm.
B) two sperm fertilize the same egg.
C) a fertilized ovum divides.
D) two different sperm fertilize two different ova.
E) a single sperm fertilizes two different ova.

Question 46

Fraternal twins occur when

A) two eggs are fertilized by the same sperm.
B) two sperm fertilize the same egg.
C) a fertilized ovum divides.
D) two different sperm fertilize two different ova.
E) a single sperm fertilizes two different ova.

Question 47

The sex of a child is determined by

A) the type of ovum that is fertilized.
B) the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum.
C) the number of sperm that fertilize an ovum.
D) whether the mother has inherited an X or a Y chromosome from her father.
E) the quality of the sperm that fertilize an ovum.

Question 48

Homozygous is to __________ as heterozygous is to __________.

A) different; same
B) double; single
C) fraternal; identical
D) same; different
E) one; two

Question 49

A recessive allele will influence the expression of a trait only when it

A) is paired with another recessive allele.
B) forms a heterozygous gene combination with another recessive allele.
C) forms a homozygous gene combination with a dominant allele.
D) is paired with a dominant, but weak allele.
E) is contributed by the male parent.

Question 50

Suppose that one parent's contribution to eye colour are alleles that are homozygous for brown and the other parent's contribution are alleles that are homozygous for blue. What will be the eye colour of their children?

A) all blue
B) all brown
C) some will have brown and some will have blue
D) hazel
E) we have no way of knowing the colour of the children's eyes

Question 51

A person who is heterozygous for blue eyes has

A) blue eyes.
B) brown eyes.
C) one blue eye and one brown eye.
D) hazel eyes.
E) we have no way of knowing this person's eye colour

Question 52

One parent is homozygous for blue eyes and the other parent is heterozygous for brown eyes. Which of the following is NOT a possible outcome for their children?

A) Some might be heterozygous for brown eyes.
B) The probability of a blue-eyed child is 50%.
C) Some might be homozygous for blue eyes.
D) Some might be homozygous for brown eyes.
E) The probability of a brown-eyed child is 50%.

Question 53

Natural selection has favoured species that reproduce sexually because sexual reproduction

A) is pleasurable, which is reinforcing.
B) leads to genetic diversity, which is adaptive.
C) leads to a longer life span and more variability in behaviour.
D) produces organisms that have the capacity for thinking and language.
E) all of the above

Question 54

If the environment in which a genetically diverse species lives suddenly changes, we might reasonably expect that

A) all members of that species would die as a result of the environmental change.
B) all members of that species would survive the environmental change.
C) some members of that species would survive the environmental change.
D) most members of that species would produce sterile offspring.
E) most members of that species would have modified phenotypes.

Question 55

Fruit fly larvae with "rover"phenotypes were more likely to survive under __________ conditions, whereas fruit fly larvae with "sitter"genes were more likely to survive under __________ conditions.

A) hot; cold
B) cold; hot
C) crowded; low-density
D) low-density; crowded
E) wet; dry

Question 56

Sokolowski and colleagues showed that fruit flies with either "rover"or "sitter"behavioural phenotypes were differently selected depending on the crowdedness of the environment. This study provided support for the idea that

A) genetic influence on behaviour is indirect, through physiological structures and processes.
B) sexual reproduction occurs at the level of chromosomes through meiosis.
C) a dominant trait will always succeed in being expressed relative to a recessive trait.
D) genetic diversity favours those species that are willing to adapt.
E) sexual reproduction may increase a species ability to adapt to environmental changes.

Question 57

Hemophilia is caused by a __________ gene on the __________ chromosome.

A) dominant; X
B) recessive; X
C) dominant; Y
D) recessive; Y
E) heterozygous; Y

Question 58

Although eamily carries the gene for hemophilia, she does not suffer from the disorder. This is because

A) the active allele for hemophilia is dominant and she has the recessive allele.
B) the disorder is due to a sex-influenced gene, not a sex-linked gene.
C) while she carries an allele for the disorder on the X chromosome, she also carries an allele for normal blood clotting on the Y chromosome.
D) while she carries an allele for the disorder on one X chromosome, she also carries an allele for normal blood clotting on the other X chromosome.
E) while she carries an allele for the disorder on the Y chromosome, she also carries an allele for normal blood clotting on the X chromosome.

Question 59

John has hemophilia and his wife carries the recessive gene but does not have the condition. If they were to have children, what is the probability that any male child would also carry the recessive gene but NOT have the condition?

A) 0%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%
E) 100%

Question 60

The gene for hemophilia is carried on the sex chromosomes, which makes the disorder an example of a __________ gene

A) sex-limited
B) sex-linked
C) sex-related
D) sex-influenced
E) sex-typed

Question 61

An example of a trait caused by a sex-influenced gene is

A) pattern baldness.
B) hemophilia.
C) Huntington's disease.
D) PKU.
E) eye colour.

Question 62

Mutations involve

A) the rearrangement of genes within a cell.
B) the rearrangement of genes between cells.
C) accidental rearrangements in the DNA code within a gene.
D) missing or additional chromosomes.
E) abnormally paired chromosomes.

Question 63

The rearrangement of genes within or between cells or in the total number of chromosomes is known as a

A) mutation.
B) chromosomal mutation.
C) chromosomal aberration.
D) mutational aberration.
E) genetic mutation.

Question 64

When there are changes in genetic material that involve rearrangement of genes, this is termed __________ and when changes involve alteration of the DNA code within a single gene, this is termed __________.

A) mutation; PKU
B) PKU; Down syndrome
C) chromosomal aberration; Huntington's disease
D) mutation; chromosomal aberration
E) chromosomal aberration; mutation

Question 65

The Cri-du-chat syndrome is

A) an example of a genetic disorder caused by a mutation.
B) due to missing genetic material in chromosome pair 5.
C) a genetic disorder that is unresponsive to any sort of treatment intervention.
D) due to excessive genetic material in chromosome pair 5.
E) caused by an extra 21st chromosome.

Question 66

Which of the following statements regarding lethal genes is TRUE?

A) On average, people carry about 6-8 lethal genes.
B) Lethal genes are usually dominant genes.
C) Only a very few lethal genetic disorders are caused by recessive lethal genes.
D) Dominant lethal genes may express themselves at different points in the life span.
E) Recessive lethal genes are only expressed when paired with a dominant lethal gene.

Question 67

If a child inherits a healthy recessive allele from one parent and a lethal dominant allele from the other parent, he or she may

A) lead a normal healthy life.
B) die during childhood.
C) die during adulthood.
D) lead a normal healthy life or die at any time during the life span.
E) have a greater number of health-related problems but have normal longevity.

Question 68

Down syndrome is caused by a(n)

A) dominant lethal gene.
B) chromosomal aberration.
C) extra Y chromosome.
D) deletion of genetic material in chromosome pair 21.
E) a homozygous recessive gene.

Question 69

Down syndrome

A) is a hereditary disorder.
B) is caused by a genetic mutation.
C) can result in death by heart and respiratory complications.
D) is more common among female than male children.
E) risks decrease as the age of the mother increases.

Question 70

Tommy shows signs of physical, psychomotor and cognitive impairment caused by an extra 21st chromosome. Tommy likely was born with __________.

A) Down syndrome
B) Huntington's disease
C) PKU
D) Hemophilia
E) Crohns

Question 71

Huntington's disease is

A) usually expressed when the affected person is between 30 and 40 years of age.
B) caused by homozygous recessive lethal genes.
C) caused by the inability to produce the proper balance of amino acids.
D) associated with mania as well as with violent and aggressive behaviours.
E) associated with excessive genetic material in chromosome pair 21.

Question 72

Michael is 48 years old and is dying. His mental and physical abilities have gradually deteriorated over the past 12 years. He no longer can control his motor abilities. What genetic disorder is Michael likely to have?

A) Down syndrome
B) Huntington's disease
C) Cri-du-chat syndrome
D) PKU
E) XYY syndrome

Question 73

A special diet is instrumental in saving the lives of children who have

A) Down syndrome.
B) Huntington's disease.
C) PKU.
D) XYY syndrome.
E) Cri-du-chat syndrome.

Question 74

Heritability is a term used to refer to

A) inheritability.
B) the probability that a trait is due to genetic factors.
C) heredity.
D) the amount of variability in a trait in a given population that is due to genetic factors.
E) the amount of variability in a trait in a given population that is NOT due to genetic factors.

Question 75

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Heritability refers to the amount of variation in a given trait in a given population at a given time.
B) The tendency of given trait to be passed from parent to offspring is called heritability.
C) Heritability is a concept that is useful in understanding variation in a given trait in given individuals.
D) Highly heritable traits are not modifiable by environmental factors.
E) Heritability refers to the amount of variation in a given trait that cannot be explained by genetic factors.

Question 76

In relation to heritability, which of the following is FALSE?

A) It applies to variation of a trait in a specific population.
B) The more a trait is influenced by genetic factors, the greater its heritability.
C) It applies to variation of a trait in an individual and the offspring of that individual.
D) It does not have the same meaning as the term inheritance.
E) It is a statistic that provides an estimate of the proportion of a behavioural tendency in a population that is due to heredity.

Question 77

The scientific study of the influence of heritability on behaviour is called

A) evolutionary psychology.
B) behaviour genetics.
C) concordance research.
D) biopsychology.
E) twin research.

Question 78

Nonmendelian is to __________ as mendelian is to __________.

A) genotypic variation; phenotypic variation
B) phenotypic variation; genotypic variation
C) dichotomous; polygenic
D) polygenic; single-locus
E) single-locus; polygenic

Question 79

Nonmendelian traits

A) show a standard pattern of inheritance.
B) are usually polygenic.
C) show less variation than mendelian traits.
D) are usually dichotomous.
E) are usually recessive.

Question 80

The three primary tools of modern behaviour genetics are

A) concordance research, genetic counselling, and artificial selection.
B) segregation analysis, concordance research and genetic counselling.
C) allelic association, segregation analysis and concordance research.
D) genetic counselling, artificial selection, and segregation analysis.
E) artificial selection, segregation analysis, and allelic association.