Prairie voles are monogamous; meadow voles are polygamous. It has been determined that male prairie voles have many more vasopressin receptors than do male meadow voles, and their receptors are concentrated in a reward system of the brain. Which of the following statements about voles is FALSE?
A) Coding sequences in the DNA of the vasopressin receptor gene of the two species of voles are 99% identical, thus the proteins produced by the gene in the two species is virtually identical.
B) Differences in DNA were found between the two species in the promoter region of the gene.
C) Different amounts of vasopressin surge in the brains of males of the two species following mating.
D) The male prairie vole associates the odor of his female mate with the feeling of reward.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The false statement is C because the difference in monogamous vs. polygamous behavior between prairie and meadow voles is primarily attributed to the number and distribution of vasopressin receptors in the brain, not to differences in the amount of vasopressin released following mating.

Prairie Voles Are Monogamous; Meadow Voles Are Polygamous