Question 1

Hans is tall and has undeveloped testes and developed unusually large breasts for a man.What sex-linked disorder does he have?

Accepted Answer

Hans has Klinefelter syndrome, a sex-linked disorder that occurs when a male is born with an extra X chromosome (XXY). This often results in undeveloped testes, causing lower levels of testosterone and unusual breast development. Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome are not sex-linked disorders, and Turner syndrome occurs in females who are missing one X chromosome.

Question 2

River has a round face,a flattened skull,an extra fold of skin over her eyelids,a thickened tongue,short limbs,and retardation of motor and mental abilities.She is likely to have been born with:

Accepted Answer

The characteristic physical features described in the question (round face, flattened skull, extra fold of skin over eyelids, thickened tongue, and short limbs) are all common in individuals with Down syndrome. Additionally, Down syndrome is associated with mental and motor retardation. The other options (A, B, and D) do not typically have the same physical or cognitive features as Down syndrome.

Question 3

Fragile X syndrome is usually characterized by some sort of mental deficiency.This deficiency could include having:

Accepted Answer

Fragile X syndrome can potentially result in mental retardation, as well as other cognitive deficits such as a short attention span and learning disabilities. Therefore, the best choice is D, as any combination of these characteristics could be present in individuals with the syndrome.

Question 4

Which view,proposed by Gilbert Gottlieb,suggests that development is an ongoing bidirectional interaction between heredity and the environment?

Accepted Answer

Gilbert Gottlieb proposed the epigenetic view of development, which suggests that development is an ongoing bidirectional interaction between heredity and the environment. This view emphasizes the role of both nature and nurture in shaping human development, with environmental factors capable of modifying genetic expression and even influencing inheritance.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a gene-linked abnormality mentioned by your textbook?

Accepted Answer

The textbook mentions diabetes, hemophilia, and Tay-Sachs disease as gene-linked abnormalities, but does not mention autistic disorder as being gene-linked.

Question 6

Lindsay wants to study a field where she will be able to discover the influence of heredity and the environment on individual differences in human traits and development.She has a particular interest in studying the differences between identical and fraternal twin pairs.Her advisor should suggest that she apply to a graduate program in ______.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral genetics is the study of the influence of genetics and environmental factors on individual differences in behavior and traits. This field also focuses on the differences between identical and fraternal twin pairs, which aligns with Lindsay's interests. The other options (B, C, and D) do not specifically focus on the relationship between genetics and environment in human traits and development.

Question 7

Phenylketonuria (PKU)is a disorder that results in the inability to metabolize ______,which is an amino acid.

Accepted Answer

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a disorder that results in the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, an amino acid that is found in protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. When phenylalanine is not properly metabolized, it can build up in the blood and brain, leading to intellectual disability, seizures, and other neurological problems.

Question 8

It is virtually impossible to locate the genetic factors involved in most psychological characteristics because of the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Polygenic inheritance refers to the fact that most psychological characteristics are influenced by multiple genes. These genes each have a small effect, making it difficult to isolate the specific genetic factors involved in a given characteristic. Other options like polygenic dominance, polygenic influence, and polygenic counseling are not valid concepts in genetics.

Question 9

Using a twin study,Professor Jones has just found that identical twins were more likely to both develop a conduct disorder than were fraternal twins.He has decided to announce to the world that,clearly,conduct disorder is determined by one's genes.His colleagues suggested,however,that he use caution when interpreting these findings because:

Accepted Answer

The similarity of the environments of identical twins may be a factor that contributes to their higher concordance rate for conduct disorder. Genes may be one factor, but the impact of the shared environment cannot be ignored.

Question 10

Some recent research discussed by your author has found that individuals who have a genetic predisposition to develop depression only have an elevated risk if they also lives that are high in stress.This research supports the theory of a _________ interaction.

Accepted Answer

Gene-environment interaction refers to the fact that genetic makeup and environmental factors work together to influence traits, behaviors, and disorders. In this case, the genetic predisposition to depression only increases risk when combined with high levels of stress, indicating a gene-environment interaction. Choices A, B, and D are not applicable in this context.

Question 11

With what sex-linked syndrome does a man have an extra X chromosome?

Accepted Answer

Klinefelter syndrome is a sex-linked syndrome where males have an extra copy of the X chromosome. This results in males having XXY instead of the typical XY chromosome pairing. This can lead to developmental and hormonal imbalances, including infertility and reduced muscle mass. Choice A, Down syndrome, is not a sex-linked syndrome and is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Choice B, Fragile X syndrome, is also not a sex-linked syndrome and is caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. Choice D, Turner syndrome, is a sex-linked syndrome but it occurs in females who are missing one X chromosome, not males with an extra X chromosome.

Question 12

In this genetic disorder,the body's red blood cells take on a hook shape instead of the normal round shape.

Accepted Answer

Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which the body's red blood cells take on a sickle or hook shape instead of the normal round shape. This can lead to various complications, including difficulty carrying oxygen, pain, and increased risk of infections. Hemophilia is a blood disorder in which the blood does not clot properly, thrombocytopenia is a condition in which there are low levels of platelets in the blood, and agranulocytosis is a condition in which there are low levels of white blood cells. None of these conditions involve changes in the shape of red blood cells.

Question 13

Emanuel is a 25-year-old African American.He is constantly anemic because of an abnormality in his blood.Emanuel has:

Accepted Answer

Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder that causes abnormal shaped red blood cells (sickled) which can cause blockages in blood vessels leading to anemia. African Americans have a higher incidence of sickle-cell anemia compared to other populations. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects blood clotting, thrombocytopenia is a condition where there is a low platelet count, and agranulocytosis is a condition where there is a low white blood cell count, none of which fit the description of Emanuel's condition.

Question 14

Which of the following explains a reason why chromosome abnormalities occur?

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes not separating properly during meiosis can lead to an abnormal number of chromosomes in the resulting cells.

Question 15

Mateo is on a strict diet because his parents are aware that he cannot metabolize a certain amino acid.Buildup of this amino acid in his system could result in mental retardation.Mateo has:

Accepted Answer

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder in which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. If left untreated, the buildup of phenylalanine can cause mental retardation, seizures, and other serious health problems. PKU can be managed by following a strict low-phenylalanine diet, which is likely the diet Mateo is on. Down syndrome (A) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, and is not related to metabolism of amino acids. Sickle-cell anemia (C) is a genetic disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells, and is not related to amino acid metabolism. Huntington disease (D) is a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system, and is not related to amino acid metabolism.

Question 16

People seek out environments that are consistent with their genetic makeup.For example,outgoing children may join the drama club or speech/debate team.This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes an active (niche-picking) genotype-environment correlation, as the child is seeking out environments that fit with their genetic predisposition for being outgoing. The other options do not fit this specific situation.

Question 17

While Sally's mother was pregnant with her,she smoked and drank alcohol,which adversely affected Sally's lung development.After Sally was born,she was placed into an environment with two parents who smoked.As Sally continued to develop,she was diagnosed with asthma,a breathing disorder.The development of this disorder could be explained by the concept of:

Accepted Answer

The epigenetic view suggests that environmental factors can influence the expression of genes, which can lead to the development of certain disorders or conditions. In this case, Sally's exposure to smoking and alcohol in the womb, as well as her exposure to secondhand smoke after birth, may have altered the functioning of genes related to lung development, leading to the development of asthma. The biopsychosocial model and medicopsychological theory are not directly applicable in this case, and while the biomedical model could be used to explain some aspects of Sally's asthma, it does not account for the specific environmental factors that contributed to her condition.

Question 18

Jessica is a very attractive teenager with beautiful brown eyes and high cheekbones.She is constantly receiving compliments about her looks and being asked out on dates.Her genes have influenced her environment in the following manner:

Accepted Answer

Jessica's genes, which contribute to her attractiveness, evoke responses from others, such as compliments and date requests, illustrating an evocative genotype-environment correlation.

Question 19

Rachel has always enjoyed reading.Now that she is a parent,she provides her daughter with many books to read,hoping the child also will learn to enjoy reading.How do behavior geneticists refer to this type of correlation between heredity and environment?

Accepted Answer

The behavior geneticists refer to this type of correlation between heredity and environment as passive genotype-environment correlation where the child's environment is influenced by the genetic traits of their parents. In this case, Rachel's love for reading may have a genetic component that is passed down to her daughter, leading her to enjoy reading as well.

Question 20

Sandra excels in reading and spelling but struggles with mathematics.She is shorter than her peers and was born without ovaries.Sandra most likely has:

Accepted Answer

The given symptoms indicate Turner syndrome, which is caused by a missing or incomplete X chromosome in females. The condition leads to short stature, absent ovaries, and difficulties with math and spatial skills. Women with Turner syndrome also tend to have better verbal skills and spelling ability. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Fragile X syndrome (B) is a genetic disorder that affects cognitive, behavioral, and physical development, but it mostly affects males. Klinefelter syndrome (C) results from an extra X chromosome and usually affects males, causing infertility, height, and learning issues. XXO syndrome (D) is not a known condition.

Quiz 2: Biological Beginnings