Two identical twins were separated at birth,one grew up in a prosperous home with ample food and time for rest.The other twin was tragically abandoned and grew up in and out of foster homes and living on the streets.After more than 20 years,the two twins were reunited,but despite their identical genomes,the twins looked very different.The most noticeable difference was their difference in stature,the prosperous twin was tall and well built,while the abandoned twin was short and scrawny.How can you explain these differences?
A)The twins actually have different genotypes.
B)The poor twin was undernourished as a child,and as a result his genes that control height and stature were mutated,resulting in a different phenotype.
C)The poor twin was undernourished as a child,and as a result he was unable to reach the full potential of his genes.
D)Traits such as height and stature are are not controlled by a person's genes,rather they are determined by environmental factors,such as nutrition,rest,and exercise.
E)Twins often have different phenotypes,because one twin gets more resources in the womb than the other.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The poor twin was undernourished as a child, which is likely to have resulted in malnourishment, leading to stunted growth, which means that the poor twin may not have reached their full potential for height and stature. Identical twins have the same genotype, so option A is incorrect. While some genetic mutations can lead to different phenotypes as stated in option B, it is unlikely to occur in both height and stature. Option D is incorrect because genes play a crucial role in determining traits such as height and stature, but environmental factors can also affect them. Option E is incorrect because twins usually get equal resources in the womb.

Two Identical Twins Were Separated at Birth,one Grew Up in a Prosperous