Question 1

A ____________ gene produces a particular trait,regardless of the type of gene it is paired with.
A) recessive
B) dominant
C) mutant
D) combatant

Accepted Answer

A dominant gene will express its trait even if partnered with a recessive gene.

Question 2

Down syndrome results from:
A) the Down syndrome gene.
B) a missing dominant gene.
C) an extra recessive gene.
D) an extra chromosome.

Accepted Answer

Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, resulting in a total of 47 chromosomes instead of the typical 46. This extra genetic material can lead to developmental delays and physical differences associated with Down syndrome.

Question 3

If you were trying to separate the effects of inheritance from the effects of environment,comparing which groups of subjects would give you the strongest evidence?
A) monozygotic and dizygotic twins
B) twins and their non-twin siblings
C) adopted children and children raised by their biological parents
D) monozygotic twins reared together and monozygotic twins adopted into separate homes

Accepted Answer

Comparing monozygotic twins reared together with those adopted into separate homes offers the strongest evidence for separating the effects of inheritance from the environment. This is because monozygotic twins have identical genetics, so any differences observed between those raised together and those raised apart can be attributed to environmental factors.

Question 4

Which statement about genes and chromosomes is accurate?
A) Genes and chromosomes are essentially the same thing.
B) Chromosomes are made up of genes.
C) For every gene,there is a corresponding chromosome.
D) Genes are made up of chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are made up of genes, but genes and chromosomes are not the same thing. Each chromosome contains many genes, and not every gene has a corresponding chromosome (e.g. the mitochondrial genome). Genes are composed of DNA and are not made up of chromosomes.

Question 5

If you learned that a particular group of aliens reproduced in the same manner as humans and that these aliens had 100 pairs of chromosomes,how many chromosomes would you expect an alien zygote would have?
A) 46
B) 50
C) 100
D) 200

Accepted Answer

An alien zygote would have 200 chromosomes because it would receive 100 chromosomes from each parent, similar to how humans receive 23 chromosomes from each parent for a total of 46.

Question 6

The patterns of beliefs,values,and practices shared by a group of people is referred to as their:
A) ethnic group.
B) country of origin.
C) culture.
D) race.

Accepted Answer

Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people, which can be based on factors such as ethnicity, nationality, religion, language, or other commonalities. This is distinct from race, which refers to physical characteristics, and country of origin, which refers to where a person was born or where their ancestors came from.

Question 7

If your father has two dominant brown-eye genes,and your mother has two recessive blue-eye genes,what are your chances of having blue eyes?
A) 75%
B) 50%
C) 25%
D) 0%

Accepted Answer

Since eye color is determined by the combination of genes from both parents, and the brown-eye gene is dominant over the blue-eye gene, a child of a parent with two dominant brown-eye genes and a parent with two recessive blue-eye genes will always receive at least one brown-eye gene, making it impossible for them to have blue eyes.

Question 8

Excluding ova and sperm,human cells have:
A) 46 pairs of chromosomes.
B) 23 chromosomes.
C) 46 chromosomes.
D) 12½ pairs of chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

Human cells have 46 chromosomes, which can be organized into 23 pairs. Each parent contributes one set of 23 chromosomes to their offspring, resulting in a total of 46 chromosomes. Option A and D are incorrect as they either mention pairs or half pairs of chromosomes, which is not an accurate representation of the chromosome number in human cells. Option B is incorrect as it states only 23 chromosomes, which is only half of the total chromosome count in human cells.

Question 9

Twin and adoption studies have proven to play a valuable role in research for which of the following reasons?
A) Selective breeding experiments that could provide answers about the role of nature and nurture are considered unethical for human beings.
B) Selective breeding experiments that could provide answers about the role of nature and nurture are considered ethical for human beings.
C) Such studies are helpful in gaining knowledge about population control.
D) Such studies will assist scientists in perfecting the science of cloning.

Accepted Answer

Twin and adoption studies offer a useful approach for studying the role of nature and nurture because they allow researchers to compare individuals who share genetic material (in the case of twins) or environmental experiences (in the case of adoptees). Selective breeding experiments are considered unethical for human beings, and such studies have no relevance to population control or cloning.

Question 10

Ebert and Hyde (1976)began a program of selective breeding to test for the human behavior of:
A) patience.
B) aggression.
C) caution.
D) compassion

Accepted Answer

Ebert and Hyde began a program of selective breeding to test for aggression in mice, not for any of the other options listed.

Question 11

Studies have demonstrated that the intelligence (IQ)of adopted children is more similar to that of their biological parents than to that of the adoptive parents who raised them since infancy.What does this suggest?
A) Environment plays a particularly strong role in the development of IQ.
B) Heredity plays a particularly strong role in the development of IQ.
C) People who adopt children are not very smart.
D) Children who are adopted are not very smart.

Accepted Answer

The fact that adopted children's IQ more closely resembles their biological parents than their adoptive parents suggests that heredity plays a stronger role in IQ development than environment. This does not imply anything about the intelligence of people who adopt children or the intelligence of adopted children.

Question 12

Who first suggested the idea that genes are responsible for inheritance?
A) Gregor Mendel
B) Charles Darwin
C) William James
D) Wilhelm Wundt

Accepted Answer

Mendel, an Austrian monk, conducted experiments with plants in the mid-1800s and proposed the theory of inheritance based on the transmission of distinct units of heredity, which he called "factors." These factors are now known as genes. Mendel's work laid the foundation for the science of genetics.

Question 13

When does a recessive gene produce a trait?
A) when there are three of the same recessive genes
B) when there is no dominant gene to give contrary instructions
C) never
D) always

Accepted Answer

A recessive gene will only produce a trait when there is no dominant gene to give contrary instructions. In the presence of at least one dominant gene, the dominant trait will be expressed instead.

Question 14

A group of people is particularly superstitious about the color of clothes and shoes they wear.This is considered part of their:
A) ethnic identity.
B) social class.
C) culture.
D) race.

Accepted Answer

Superstitions about the color of clothes and shoes are cultural practices, as they are specific to a particular group's beliefs and traditions. Ethnic identity refers to shared cultural traits among people of the same ethnic group, but the focus is on more broad aspects such as language, religion, and customs. Social class and race are not relevant in this scenario.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the role of inheritance in humans is true?
A) Many specific patterns of behavior are completely determined by heredity.
B) Heredity appears to influence broad dimensions of human behavior.
C) Human behavior appears to develop quite independently from both heredity and environment.
D) Environment alone is important in determining personality dimensions.

Accepted Answer

While specific patterns of behavior may not be completely determined by heredity, research suggests that broad dimensions of human behavior, such as personality traits, are influenced by heredity. However, environmental factors also play a significant role in shaping human behavior. Choice A is incorrect because not all patterns of behavior are determined solely by heredity. Choice C is incorrect because behavior is influenced by a complex interplay between heredity and environment. Choice D is incorrect because environment alone does not determine personality dimensions.

Question 16

On average,brothers and sisters share approximately ______ of their genes.
A) 20%
B) 35%
C) 50%
D) 75%

Accepted Answer

Brothers and sisters share 50% of their genes on average because they inherit half of their genetic material from their mother and half from their father.

Question 17

It is impossible to fully understand human diversity without understanding the role of:
A) culture.
B) ethnic identity.
C) gender identity.
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

Culture, ethnic identity, and gender identity are all critical components of understanding human diversity. Culture shapes people's beliefs, values, and behaviors, and influences their perceptions and experiences of the world. Ethnic identity is closely tied to cultural identity and refers to a sense of belonging to a particular group based on shared ancestry, culture, and history. Gender identity also plays a significant role in individuals' experiences of the world, influencing how they are treated and perceived by others and shaping their sense of self. Therefore, understanding all three of these factors is essential in understanding human diversity.

Question 18

Lucy and Lois are identical twins.What percentage of their genes do they have in common?
A) 25
B) 50
C) 75
D) 100

Accepted Answer

Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg, so they have identical DNA. Therefore, they have 100% of their genes in common.

Question 19

Chad's mother has observed that her son is very sociable and kind like she is,but he is also anxious like his father.The most reasonable conclusion we can draw from this data is that:
A) Chad is most like his mother,due to genetic factors.
B) Chad is most like his father,due to genetic factors.
C) Chad is like both of his parents,primarily due to genetic factors.
D) Chad is like both of his parents,due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Accepted Answer

Chad's mother observes that he is both sociable and kind like her, which suggests a genetic component to these traits. However, she also notes that he is anxious like his father, which could also have a genetic component. It is possible that Chad inherited a combination of traits from both parents, indicating that he is like both of his parents. However, the environment may also play a role in shaping his behavior and personality, so it is not solely due to genetic factors. Therefore, the best choice is D, that Chad is like both of his parents due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Question 20

Zygotes have ______ chromosomes.
A) 23
B) 35
C) 46
D) 52

Accepted Answer

Zygotes have 23 chromosomes, which is the diploid number of chromosomes in humans. The sperm and egg each contribute 23 single, unpaired chromosomes, which combine to form a pair of each chromosome in the zygote.

Quiz 4: The Interplay of Nature and Nurture

A ____________ gene produces a particular trait,regardless of the type of gene it is paired with.

Down syndrome results from:

If you were trying to separate the effects of inheritance from the effects of environment,comparing which groups of subjects would give you the strongest evidence?

Which statement about genes and chromosomes is accurate?

If you learned that a particular group of aliens reproduced in the same manner as humans and that these aliens had 100 pairs of chromosomes,how many chromosomes would you expect an alien zygote would have?

The patterns of beliefs,values,and practices shared by a group of people is referred to as their:

If your father has two dominant brown-eye genes,and your mother has two recessive blue-eye genes,what are your chances of having blue eyes?

Excluding ova and sperm,human cells have:

Twin and adoption studies have proven to play a valuable role in research for which of the following reasons?

Ebert and Hyde (1976) began a program of selective breeding to test for the human behavior of:

Studies have demonstrated that the intelligence (IQ) of adopted children is more similar to that of their biological parents than to that of the adoptive parents who raised them since infancy.What does this suggest?

Who first suggested the idea that genes are responsible for inheritance?

When does a recessive gene produce a trait?

A group of people is particularly superstitious about the color of clothes and shoes they wear.This is considered part of their:

Which of the following statements about the role of inheritance in humans is true?

On average,brothers and sisters share approximately ______ of their genes.

It is impossible to fully understand human diversity without understanding the role of:

Lucy and Lois are identical twins.What percentage of their genes do they have in common?

Chad's mother has observed that her son is very sociable and kind like she is,but he is also anxious like his father.The most reasonable conclusion we can draw from this data is that:

Zygotes have ______ chromosomes.