With more stressful life events, some people cope better than others. One line of research suggests that individuals have a(n) ____________ risk of depression with one or two copies of ____________ alleles for the promotor region of the 5-HT transporter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The 5-HTT gene codes for serotonin transporter, and the promoter region of this gene contains a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), which can be short or long. Individuals with one or two copies of the short allele have been shown to have reduced serotonin transporter expression, which is associated with an increased risk of depression, especially in stressful life events. Therefore, the correct choice is A (increased risk of depression with one or two copies of short alleles).

With More Stressful Life Events, Some People Cope Better Than