Question 1

In the nature-nurture debate, nature stands for
A) non-biological, learned characteristics
B) biological, innate characteristics
C) interactions between cultural and evolutionary traits
D) functions of the family environment

Accepted Answer

Nature in the nature-nurture debate refers to the biological, innate characteristics that are influenced by genetic inheritance.

Question 2

The non-biological, learned characteristics of individuals and their behavior can be called
A) nature
B) navigation
C) nurture
D) nuance

Accepted Answer

The term "nurture" refers to the environmental influences and experiences that contribute to an individual's development, encompassing all the non-biological and learned aspects of behavior and characteristics.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of the nature-nurture debate?
A) Nature always exists via nurture.
B) Nuture should be evaluated in isolation of nature.
C) Nature should be evaluated more closely than nurture.
D) Nurture is more important for developing skills later in life.

Accepted Answer

The nature-nurture debate involves understanding how both genetic predispositions (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) interact to shape human behavior and development. Nature always exists via nurture, as genetic potential is expressed through environmental interactions.

Question 4

The field of behavior genetics is a field within this psychological perspective.
A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) sociocultural
D) biobehavioral

Accepted Answer

Behavior genetics is a field within the biobehavioral perspective, which examines the influence of genetics and the environment on behaviors.

Question 5

The human genome is the set of genetic instructions for the
A)development of human personality characteristics.
B) percentage of genetic difference between species of organisms.
C) distribution of neural cells in the brain and spinal cord.
D) building of the human organism by amino acids and proteins.

Accepted Answer

The human genome contains the instructions for the building of the human organism, including the synthesis of proteins and amino acids, which are essential for the development and functioning of the body.

Question 6

Chromosomes are found in which part of a cell?
A) soma
B) nucleus
C) endoplasmic reticulm
D) golgi apparatus

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes, which carry genetic information, are located in the nucleus of a cell.

Question 7

The unique code for creating a living organism is contained within
A) DNA
B) RNA
C) ribosomes
D) chromosomes

Accepted Answer

DNA contains the genetic code that determines the characteristics of an organism.

Question 8

The functional units of DNA grouped along chromosomes are also known as
A) alleles
B) dominants
C) genes
D) genotypes

Accepted Answer

Genes are the functional units of DNA that are grouped along chromosomes, responsible for hereditary characteristics.

Question 9

The versions of genes that humans inherit are called
A) alleles
B) chromosomes
C) genes
D) phenotypes

Accepted Answer

Alleles are the different versions of a gene that determine distinct traits that can be passed from parents to offspring.

Question 10

Eva has blonde hair, but her sister, Cynthia, has brown hair. What is responsible for the sisters' different hair colors?
A) The sisters inherited two separate genomes.
B) The sisters inherited different sets of alleles.
C) The sisters are most likely identical twins.
D) The gene for Cynthia's hair color came from her mother.

Accepted Answer

The sisters inherited different sets of alleles, which are variations of a gene. Hair color is determined by the combination of alleles inherited from both parents, leading to variations such as blonde or brown hair among siblings.

Question 11

The set of instructions that is contained within DNA for any living organism is known as the organism's _________________. The observable traits of any living organism are known as the organism's_______________.
A) phenotype; genotype
B) genotype; heterotype
C) homotype; heterotype
D) genotype; phenotype

Accepted Answer

The set of instructions within DNA that dictates the biological development and functioning of an organism is known as its genotype. The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, which result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment, are referred to as its phenotype.

Question 12

Gregor Mendel was the first understand that the fundamental unit of heredity is the
A) zygote
B) gene
C) chromosome
D) genome

Accepted Answer

Mendel's work with pea plants led him to formulate the laws of inheritance, which are the foundation of genetics. He is credited with discovering that traits are passed from parents to offspring through discrete units, which we now call genes.

Question 13

Brian and Michael are brothers and they both inherited a gene for blue eyes. However, Brian's eyes are brown. How is that possible?
A) The genes that Brian and Michael inherited were corrupted in Brian's case.
B) Brian's genotype included genes for blue eyes only, but his eye color changed due to the lack of sunlight in his bedroom.
C) Michael's phenotype hides the fact that he inherited genes for brown eyes.
D) Brian's genotype included alleles for blue and brown eyes.

Accepted Answer

Brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes. Brian inherited a gene for blue eyes from one parent and a gene for brown eyes from the other, making his eyes brown due to the dominance of the brown eye allele.

Question 14

Genes transmit genetic instructions through this chemical compound.
A) protein
B) amino acid
C) RNA
D) DNA

Accepted Answer

The answer of Genes transmit genetic instructions through this chemical...

Question 15

The main function of RNA is to
A) code the genetic material to be passed on to the next generation.
B) transcribe information to code for protein synthesis
C) ready the cell for mitosis.
D) generate genetic information to be used by mitochondria

Accepted Answer

The main function of RNA, particularly messenger RNA (mRNA), is to transcribe information from DNA and carry it to the ribosome, where it is used to synthesize proteins according to the genetic instructions. This process is fundamental to the expression of genes into proteins, which perform a wide array of functions within living organisms.

Question 16

The chances of a gene replicating itself is enhanced if
A) the gene guides behavior that leads to a person's death
B) the gene guides development of tumors in a person's abdomen
C) the gene replicates as many cells as possible
D) the gene guides behavior that leads a person to survive

Accepted Answer

Genes that guide behaviors enhancing an individual's survival are more likely to be passed on to future generations, as these behaviors increase the likelihood of living long enough to reproduce.

Question 17

All of the following are examples of the relationship of nature and nurture in gene replication, EXCEPT
A) An infant whose mother drinks excessively during pregnancy may develop fetal alcohol syndrome
B) A genetically normal child deprived of human touch may develop profound cognitive and emotional problems
C) A child who develops more rapidly be perceived as mature as a less rapidly developing child
D) A human being reared in darkness during specific periods of early infancy will never develop normal vision

Accepted Answer

This option does not directly illustrate the interaction between nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) in gene replication or development, unlike the other options which show how environmental factors can influence genetic expression and development.

Question 18

Richie was born with exceptional intellectual aptitude, but his teachers are overworked and tend to ignore his attempts to participate in class. Which of the following is most likely given the relationship between genes and the environment?
A)Richie will develop a serious dependence on alcohol.
B) Richie will slowly lose interest in activities that showcase his intelligence.
C) Richie will increase his efforts to show off his intelligence.
D) Richie will be accepted to a top-level university and become a teacher himself.

Accepted Answer

Richie's situation illustrates the concept of gene-environment interaction, where his innate intellectual abilities (genes) are not being nurtured by his environment (overworked teachers ignoring him). This lack of support and stimulation can lead to disengagement and a loss of interest in activities that would otherwise allow him to express and develop his intelligence.

Question 19

One reason that the genome is complicated is that
A) genes can become active or inactive based other genes
B)genes tend to be inherited only in enriched environments
C) genes can be turned off by other aspects of evolution
D) genes tend to only be important for developing culturally valued traits

Accepted Answer

Genes can be regulated by other genes, meaning they can be turned on or off depending on the presence or absence of certain regulatory genes, contributing to the complexity of the genome.

Question 20

Twin brothers Jim Lewis and Jim Springer are interesting to behavior geneticists because, despite being reared apart,
A) both of them married a woman named Linda
B) their scores on personality tests and intelligence tests were extremely similar
C) they both enjoyed a love of baseball.
D) their scores on genetic tests were significantly different.

Accepted Answer

The Jim twins, Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, are famous for their remarkably similar personality and intelligence test scores despite being raised apart, highlighting the influence of genetics on these traits.

Quiz 3: The Nature and Nurture of Behavior

In the nature-nurture debate, nature stands for

The non-biological, learned characteristics of individuals and their behavior can be called

Which of the following is true of the nature-nurture debate?

The field of behavior genetics is a field within this psychological perspective.

The human genome is the set of genetic instructions for the

Chromosomes are found in which part of a cell?

The unique code for creating a living organism is contained within

The functional units of DNA grouped along chromosomes are also known as

The versions of genes that humans inherit are called

Eva has blonde hair, but her sister, Cynthia, has brown hair. What is responsible for the sisters' different hair colors?

The set of instructions that is contained within DNA for any living organism is known as the organism's ___. The observable traits of any living organism are known as the organism's_.

Gregor Mendel was the first understand that the fundamental unit of heredity is the

Brian and Michael are brothers and they both inherited a gene for blue eyes. However, Brian's eyes are brown. How is that possible?

Genes transmit genetic instructions through this chemical compound.

The main function of RNA is to

The chances of a gene replicating itself is enhanced if

All of the following are examples of the relationship of nature and nurture in gene replication, EXCEPT

Richie was born with exceptional intellectual aptitude, but his teachers are overworked and tend to ignore his attempts to participate in class. Which of the following is most likely given the relationship between genes and the environment?

One reason that the genome is complicated is that

Twin brothers Jim Lewis and Jim Springer are interesting to behavior geneticists because, despite being reared apart,