Question 1

Diet and stress can affect the ________ that regulate gene expression.

Accepted Answer

Diet and stress can affect the epigenetic molecules that regulate gene expression. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can be influenced by environmental factors, including nutrition and stress. These modifications can alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence.

Question 2

Many of the outer cells of the zygote become the

Accepted Answer

The outer cells of the zygote become the trophoblast, which eventually forms the placenta.

Question 3

As newborns,we turn our heads in the direction of human voices and we gaze longer at more face-like images.This best illustrates that we are born preferring sights and sounds that facilitate

Accepted Answer

The fact that newborns turn their heads towards human voices and gaze longer at more face-like images suggest that they are born with a preference for social responsiveness. This implies that infants are biologically prepared to attend to socially relevant stimuli, which in turn facilitates their social and emotional development.

Question 4

Which of the following would likely prevent DNA from producing the proteins coded by a gene?

Accepted Answer

An epigenetic mark, such as DNA methylation or histone modification, can prevent the transcription and translation of a gene, ultimately leading to the inhibition of protein production. Neurotransmitters, critical periods, and sex chromosomes do not directly interfere with the process of protein synthesis.

Question 5

Epigenetics is the study of environmental influences on ________ that occur without a DNA change.

Accepted Answer

Epigenetics studies changes in gene expression without alterations to the DNA sequence itself. This can be caused by environmental factors such as diet, stress, and toxins, which can affect the way DNA is packaged and expressed. Natural selection is the process by which beneficial traits are passed on to future generations and involves changes to the DNA sequence. Personality traits and stress hormones are influenced by gene expression, but epigenetics specifically looks at environmental factors that can affect gene expression.

Question 6

Temperament is an individual's characteristic

Accepted Answer

Temperament refers to an individual's innate traits, including their emotional reactivity and intensity. Social connectedness, physical health, and intelligence are not necessarily related to temperament.

Question 7

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome demonstrate that alcohol is a

Accepted Answer

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a result of exposure to alcohol during pregnancy, which can cause a variety of physical and neurological abnormalities in the developing fetus. This demonstrates that alcohol is a teratogen, a substance that can cause birth defects or developmental problems in a growing embryo or fetus.

Question 8

An unlearned,automatic response to a sensory stimulus is called a

Accepted Answer

An unlearned, automatic response to a sensory stimulus is called a reflex. Neural network is a complex system of interconnected neurons that process and transmit information, synapse is a point of connection between two neurons, and teratogen is any agent that can cause a birth defect or negatively affect development in the womb. None of these options fit the description of an unlearned, automatic response.

Question 9

Nimat used cocaine while she was pregnant,which damaged her developing fetus.The cocaine was a(n)

Accepted Answer

Teratogens are substances or environmental factors that can cause birth defects or negatively impact fetal development. Cocaine is a known teratogen and can cause a range of issues including fetal growth restriction, premature birth, developmental delays, and cognitive and behavioral problems later in life. Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions, zygote is the fertilized egg, and placenta is the organ that connects the developing fetus to the mother's body for nutrient exchange.

Question 10

Harmful chemicals or viruses that can be transferred from a mother to her developing fetus are called

Accepted Answer

Teratogens are substances or agents that can cause birth defects or developmental problems in a developing fetus. Examples include alcohol, certain medications, and viruses such as rubella. Embryos and zygotes refer to early stages of fetal development, while placentas are a maternal organ that helps support fetal growth and development, and do not necessarily refer to harmful substances.

Question 11

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth is known as a fetus. The zygote is the initial stage after the joining of the sperm and egg, while the embryo is the stage from 2 to 8 weeks after conception. The ovum is simply the egg cell before fertilization.

Question 12

From 2 weeks to 8 weeks after conception,the human organism is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The answer of From 2 weeks to 8 weeks after...

Question 13

Upon hearing a loud noise,3-week-old Mia's arms and legs sprang out and her fist clenched.Her reaction best illustrated

Accepted Answer

Mia's reaction of her arms and legs sprang out and her fist clenched in response to a loud noise is a typical example of a startle reflex, which is an automatic and involuntary response to a sudden, unexpected stimulus. This reflex is present in infants from birth and gradually disappears around 4-6 months of age. The other options, such as critical period, epigenetic mark, and stranger anxiety, do not apply to Mia's situation.

Question 14

Automatically withdrawing our limbs to escape contact with a painful stimulus illustrates

Accepted Answer

Automatically withdrawing our limbs to escape contact with a painful stimulus is a reflex response, which is an automatic and involuntary response to a stimulus.

Question 15

We often expose ourselves to those life experiences that are best suited to our unique personality traits.This best illustrates the interaction of

Accepted Answer

The interaction of personality traits and life experiences best illustrates the interaction of nature (personality traits) and nurture (life experiences). Personality traits are largely influenced by genetics (nature) whereas life experiences are largely influenced by environmental factors (nurture). Therefore, the interaction of these two factors can determine which life experiences we are more prone to be exposed to.

Question 16

Research on the perceptual abilities of newborns indicates that they

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that newborns have a preference for looking at images that resemble faces, suggesting that they are able to distinguish facial features from other stimuli. They do not see nothing for the first 12 hours, and while they may not be able to process all the details of an object, they are able to recognize the outlines and contours of objects. Additionally, they are capable of distinguishing differences in brightness and color.

Question 17

Because Marla is the first girl in her fourth-grade class to sexually mature,she is sometimes teased and rejected by her classmates.Marla's sense of social isolation and embarrassment result from the interaction of

Accepted Answer

Marla's social isolation and embarrassment are a result of both her nature (the fact that she is the first girl in her class to sexually mature) and nurture (the teasing and rejection by her classmates). This demonstrates the interaction between nature and nurture in shaping an individual's development and social experiences.

Question 18

People's reactions to our genetically influenced traits constitute part of our

Accepted Answer

People's reactions to our genetically influenced traits are a part of our environment. Our environment includes all external factors that influence our development and behavior, including the responses of others to our traits. Epigenetic marks refer to chemical modifications of our genes that can be influenced by environmental factors, but they do not directly involve the reactions of others to our traits. Genome refers to our entire genetic makeup, but it does not specifically include reactions from others. Temperament refers to our innate personality traits, which are partially influenced by genetics, but again, it does not specifically include reactions from others.

Question 19

Noticeable physical and mental abnormalities are most likely to be associated with severe cases of

Accepted Answer

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition that occurs due to maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and is known for causing physical and mental abnormalities in the developing fetus.

Question 20

A fertilized egg is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A fertilized egg is referred to as a zygote, which is the initial stage of an embryo's development. Teratogens are substances that can harm the developing fetus, and a fetus is the later stage of the embryo's development.

Quiz 3: Developing Through the Life Span