Ben's grandfather died at the age of 85. Ben's father died at the age of 84. Based on genetics, it is most likely that Ben will ______.
A) live longer than his father and grandfather because of evolutionary changes
B) die sooner than his grandfather or father because his father failed to live longer than his grandfather
C) die at about the same age as either his father or grandfather
D) live to an unpredicted age due to environmental factors his father and grandfather had little to do with

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Based on genetics, the most likely outcome is that Ben will live to about the same age as his father and grandfather. While environmental factors can play a role in lifespan, genetic factors are also important. Given that both his grandfather and father lived into their 80s, it is likely that Ben has inherited genes that predispose him to a similar lifespan. The fact that his father did not live longer than his grandfather does not necessarily indicate anything about Ben's lifespan.

Ben's Grandfather Died at the Age of 85