Question 1

The greatest ethical controversy about treatments for hereditary disorders concerns the possible misuse of

Accepted Answer

Germline gene therapy involves altering the genes in eggs, sperm, or early embryos, which means the changes would be passed down to future generations. This raises ethical concerns as it could potentially lead to genetic enhancements and eugenics.

Question 2

Which of these medical diagnostic tests can be done earliest in pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these medical diagnostic tests can...

Question 3

Prenatal diagnostic tests are especially advised for

Accepted Answer

Prenatal diagnostic tests are especially advised for mothers who are 40 or older due to the increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome in the fetus.

Question 4

Negative eugenics means that

Accepted Answer

Negative eugenics is the practice of eliminating or restricting the reproduction of individuals with undesirable traits. This can include forced sterilization, selective breeding, or even the elimination of individuals deemed undesirable. While this concept has been widely discredited and is considered unethical today, it was often practiced in the past by governments and organizations seeking to improve the genetic quality of a population. Option A aligns with the definition of negative eugenics.

Question 5

Which prenatal diagnostic technique has the highest risk of inducing an accidental miscarriage?

Accepted Answer

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) has a slightly higher risk of inducing a miscarriage compared to other prenatal diagnostic techniques like amniocentesis, due to its earlier timing in pregnancy and the nature of the procedure.

Question 6

The ____ prenatal diagnostic technique is especially suitable and safe for detecting multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.).

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound imaging is non-invasive and can provide images of multiple fetuses at once, making it a suitable and safe technique for detecting multiple pregnancies. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling carry higher risks and are not necessarily recommended for routine multiple pregnancy screening. Pedigree analysis is not a prenatal diagnostic technique.

Question 7

How long must a phenylketonuria (PKU) patient remain on a special diet to avoid all harmful effects?

Accepted Answer

A person with PKU must follow a special low-phenylalanine diet for their entire life to avoid harmful effects. PKU is a genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to break down a substance called phenylalanine, which can build up and damage the brain. A diet low in phenylalanine can prevent this from happening. While some PKU patients may be able to relax their diet somewhat in adulthood, they still need to continue monitoring their phenylalanine intake throughout their life.

Question 8

The study of how genotype interacts with environment to influence behavioral attributes is called

Accepted Answer

The study of how genotype interacts with environment to influence behavioral attributes is the central topic of behavioral genetics. A focuses on progress, B implies that all behavior is determined by genetic factors alone, and C refers to a controversial and outdated movement promoting selective breeding for desirable traits.

Question 9

Which technique of prenatal diagnosis generates an image of the developing baby's body shape?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound is a technique of prenatal diagnosis that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the developing baby's body shape. This technology can provide information about the baby's growth, anatomy, and sex, and can detect many birth defects and abnormalities. DNA analysis, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling are other prenatal diagnostic techniques, but they do not generate images of the developing baby's body shape. DNA analysis analyzes the genetic material in cells taken from the fetus, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling involve taking samples of amniotic fluid or placental tissue to examine fetal cells and DNA for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders.

Question 10

Identify the correct sequence of prenatal diagnostic tests from earliest to latest availability during pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the correct sequence of prenatal diagnostic...

Question 11

The Mensa Society is a social organization for highly intelligent people. If Mensa members are encouraged to date and marry among themselves, and to have many children, then it practices a mild and voluntary form of

Accepted Answer

Positive eugenics involves encouraging reproduction among those with desirable traits, such as high intelligence. By promoting dating and marriage among its members and encouraging them to have children, Mensa is practicing a mild and voluntary form of positive eugenics. Negative eugenics, on the other hand, involves discouraging reproduction among those with undesirable traits, while genetic counseling and gene replacement therapy are medical interventions aimed at preventing or treating genetic disorders.

Question 12

A woman over 35 has already borne a child with Down syndrome. She becomes pregnant again and immediately visits a genetic counselor for advice. If the woman wishes to abort the baby as soon as possible if the child has Down syndrome, the genetic counselor will suggest

Accepted Answer

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can be performed earlier in the pregnancy than amniocentesis, allowing for earlier detection of Down syndrome.

Question 13

The risk of a miscarriage resulting from an amniocentesis test is greater than the risk of a birth defect when the mother's age is under ____ years.

Accepted Answer

The risk of a miscarriage resulting from an amniocentesis test is about 0.5% for women under the age of 35. In contrast, the risk of having a baby with a birth defect increases with the mother's age. Therefore, for women under the age of 35, the risk of miscarriage due to amniocentesis is actually higher than the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. However, for women over the age of 35, the risk of having a baby with a birth defect outweighs the risk of miscarriage due to amniocentesis, making the test a more favorable option.

Question 14

German Nazis, led by Hitler, promoted a species improvement program called "racial hygiene," which required extermination of populations that the Nazis regarded as inferior. This atrocious program was an example of

Accepted Answer

Negative eugenics involves the elimination of populations deemed inferior or undesirable. The Nazi program of exterminating individuals whom they considered inferior fits into this category of eugenics. Positive eugenics, on the other hand, aims to improve the genetic composition of populations through selective breeding or other interventions. Gene replacement therapy and germline gene therapy are modern genetic technologies that aim to replace or modify genes to treat genetic disorders, and are not related to eugenics.

Question 15

Germline gene therapy bears closest resemblance to

Accepted Answer

Germline gene therapy involves altering the genes in reproductive cells (sperm or eggs) to pass the desired genetic changes on to offspring. Thus, it is a form of gene replacement therapy, as it aims to replace faulty or missing genes with functional ones. Options A, D, and B do not involve altering the genetic makeup of reproductive cells.

Question 16

Pregnant women over the age of 35 often undergo amniocentisis because

Accepted Answer

The age of 35 is considered advanced maternal age, and the risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, increases significantly as women get older. Amniocentesis is a diagnostic tool to detect these abnormalities in the fetal cells.

Question 17

The variation of a trait that results from hereditary influence is called

Accepted Answer

Heritability refers to the extent to which variation in a trait can be attributed to genetic factors. It is a measure of the amount of variation in a trait that is due to genetic differences among individuals in a population.

Question 18

____ is a type of genetic engineering that involves altering or replacing harmful genes during the embryonic stage.

Accepted Answer

Germline gene therapy is a type of genetic engineering that involves altering or replacing harmful genes during the embryonic stage. This is done by modifying the DNA of the sperm or egg prior to fertilization, so the changes are present in every cell of the resulting organism. This technique has the potential to eliminate genetic disorders, as well as prevent the transmission of these disorders to future generations.

Question 19

ETHOLOGY is to BEHAVIORAL GENETICS as ____ is to ____.

Accepted Answer

Ethology and behavioral genetics both study behavior, but ethology focuses on the study of behavior in relation to an organism's environment and evolutionary history, while behavioral genetics focuses on the genetic and biological basis of behavior. Therefore, the relationship between the two is one of exploring developmental similarities and differences, making D the best choice. Choices A, B, and C do not have a clear analogous relationship to ethology and behavioral genetics.

Question 20

The overriding goal of eugenics is to

Accepted Answer

The overriding goal of eugenics is to improve the genetic traits of children through selective breeding or genetic engineering. This idea originates from the belief that certain inherited traits are desirable and should be emphasized, whereas others are undesirable and should be eliminated from the gene pool. Although eugenics has been widely discredited and rejected as a pseudo-scientific theory, it has been used to justify many forms of discriminatory practices, including forced sterilizations and genocide. Therefore, it is important to recognize the dangers of eugenics and uphold human rights and dignity for all individuals, regardless of their genetic makeup.

Quiz 2: Hereditary Influences on Development