In an early study,an investigator trying to demonstrate Lamarckian evolution tested rats' ability to learn a swimming maze,and then bred those rats and demonstrated that the next generation learned faster.What conclusion did the research support,if any?
A)When rats learn something, their offspring inherit the knowledge.
B)Breeding rats in a laboratory enables them to evolve greater intelligence.
C)Rats learn faster in a swimming maze than they do in a walking maze.
D)The results did not lead to a conclusion, because of the absence of a control group.

Question

In an early study,an investigator trying to demonstrate Lamarckian evolution tested rats' ability to learn a swimming maze,and then bred those rats and demonstrated that the next generation learned faster.What conclusion did the research support,if any?​
A)When rats learn something, their offspring inherit the knowledge.
B)​Breeding rats in a laboratory enables them to evolve greater intelligence.
C)​Rats learn faster in a swimming maze than they do in a walking maze.
D)​The results did not lead to a conclusion, because of the absence of a control group.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study lacked a control group, which is essential for determining if the observed effect (faster learning in offspring) is actually due to the intervention (breeding rats that learned a maze) or if it could be attributed to other factors. Without a control group, it's impossible to draw a definitive conclusion about the inheritance of learned abilities or any other specific cause.

In an Early Study,an Investigator Trying to Demonstrate Lamarckian Evolution