Question 1

Most psychologists would agree that the evolutionary history of our species accounts for our preference for sweet tastes.

Accepted Answer

Our ancestors evolved in environments where sweet fruits indicated a high calorie source of energy, which was necessary for survival. As a result, humans have developed a preference for sweet tastes, as it helped them identify foods that were high in energy and nutrition. This preference for sweetness has been passed down through generations and is still evident in modern human behavior.

Question 2

An evolutionary psychologist would agree that the human mind is like a general-purpose computer waiting to be programmed.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists argue that the human mind consists of specialized modules shaped by natural selection to solve specific problems faced by our ancestors, rather than being a general-purpose computer.

Question 3

According to the principle of natural selection, the fate of genetic variations depends on the environment.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on the genetic variations that exist within a population, but the fate of those variations depends on the environmental conditions. Traits or alleles that confer advantages in a particular environment are more likely to be passed on to future generations, while those that are disadvantageous are less likely to be passed on. Therefore, natural selection is highly dependent on the environment in which it operates.

Question 4

An example of a human tendency that is either present at birth, or develops rapidly during maturation, is an attraction to novelty.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that humans are biologically inclined towards seeking out new experiences and stimuli, a trait often referred to as novelty-seeking. This tendency may be present at birth or develop rapidly during maturation.

Question 5

Over the past century and a half, Darwin's ideas have been vehemently rejected by findings in anthropology, botany, and molecular genetics.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's ideas have been supported and expanded upon by findings in anthropology, botany, and molecular genetics. While there have been some adjustments and refinements to his theories, the basic principles of evolution have been confirmed by a vast amount of scientific evidence.

Question 6

Researchers have completed a rough map of the human genome including information about what each gene does and where it is located.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers have completed a rough map of...

Question 7

In the year 2000, an international collaboration of researchers called the Human Genome Project and a private company, Celera Genomics, both announced that they had completed a rough draft of a map of the entire human genome.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate statement about the completion of the human genome project in the year 2000.

Question 8

Basic arithmetic skills are either present at birth or develop rapidly during maturation.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that infants have an innate ability to perceive numerical differences and that basic arithmetic skills develop rapidly as children grow and mature.

Question 9

Once a particular gene is located, it is relatively easy for researchers to identify its function.

Accepted Answer

While identifying a gene is an important step, determining its function can be a complex and lengthy process that involves extensive research and experimentation. Additionally, some genes may have multiple functions, making it even more challenging to fully understand their roles. Therefore, simply locating a gene does not necessarily mean that its function can be easily identified.

Question 10

An example of a human tendency that is either present at birth, or develops rapidly during maturation, is a preference for familiar objects.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An example of a human tendency that...

Question 11

Most psychologists would agree that the evolutionary history of our species accounts for our engagement in warfare.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most psychologists would agree that the evolutionary...

Question 12

According to the principle of natural selection, genetic variations become more common over time if they are adaptive in a particular environment.

Accepted Answer

This is a fundamental concept in the theory of evolution and natural selection. Traits that provide benefits for survival and reproduction are more likely to be passed on to future generations, increasing their frequency in a population. Traits that are not adaptive may become less common or disappear over time.

Question 13

An evolutionary psychologist would agree that the human mind developed as a collection of modules to handle specific survival problems.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology posits that the mind evolved through natural selection to solve specific adaptive problems faced by humans throughout their evolutionary history, resulting in the development of specific modules or mental adaptations.

Question 14

Linkage studies look for patterns of inheritance of genetic markers in large families in which a particular condition is common.

Accepted Answer

Linkage studies use genetic markers to track the inheritance of a condition within families. By analyzing the patterns of inheritance, researchers can identify genetic regions that may be associated with the condition.

Question 15

Evolution is defined as a change of gene frequencies within a population over many generations.

Accepted Answer

This is the generally accepted definition of evolution in biology.

Question 16

An evolutionary psychologist would agree that virtually every human tendency, from cleanliness to cruelty, is innate.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists believe that many human tendencies have evolved due to natural selection, but they also recognize the influence of environmental and cultural factors on behavior.

Question 17

Over the past century and a half, Darwin's ideas have been resoundingly supported by findings in anthropology, botany, and molecular genetics.

Accepted Answer

Many scientific fields have provided evidence that supports Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Anthropology has uncovered fossil evidence of human evolution; botany has identified patterns of adaptation and diversification in plant species; and molecular genetics has shown how genetic variations can lead to evolutionary changes over time.

Question 18

In the year 1987, an international collaboration of researchers called the Human Genome Project and a private company, Celera Genomics, both announced that they had completed a rough draft of a map of the entire human genome.

Accepted Answer

The Human Genome Project began in 1990 and Celera Genomics was founded in 1998. The rough draft of the human genome was announced in 2000.

Question 19

An evolutionary psychologist would agree that if a trait exists, then it must have been adaptive to human survival.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An evolutionary psychologist would agree that if...

Question 20

The linkage method was used to locate the gene responsible for Huntington's disease.

Accepted Answer

The linkage method was indeed used to locate the gene responsible for Huntington's disease in 1983 by a team led by Dr. Nancy Wexler.

Quiz 3: Genes, Evolution, and Environment