Ch. 3 Biology and Behavior Flashcards
- The genetic material an individual inherits is called the
a. chromosome.
b. genome.
c. phenotype.
d. genotype.
d. genotype.
- Marcus has red hair, green eyes, and freckles. He is very active but shy. These characteristics are a reflection of Marcus’s
a. dominant genes.
b. recessive genes.
c. genotype.
d. phenotype.
d. phenotype.
- An individual’s genetic sex is determined by
a. the Y chromosome of the genetically female parent.
b. the random interaction of the sex chromosomes of both biological parents.
c. the sex chromosomes contributed by the genetically female parent.
d. the sex chromosomes contributed by the genetically male parent.
d. the sex chromosomes contributed by the genetically male parent.
- Although the structure of our genetic code remains fixed throughout our lifetime, the functioning of our genes and their expression can be altered by environmental factors. The field that studies these changes is called
a. plasticity.
b. epigenetics.
c. behavioral science.
d. synaptogenesis.
b. epigenetics.
- Traits such as aggression and shyness are the result of the contributions of a complex combination of genes. These traits are examples of which process?
a. Polygenetic inheritance
b. Experience-expectant plasticity
c. Mendelian inheritance
d. Experience-dependent plasticity
a. Polygenetic inheritance
- A twin-study design project reveals that the correlation between identical (MZ) twins on a given trait is substantially higher than that between fraternal (DZ) twins. Which statement offers the most plausible explanation for the difference in how this trait is correlated in MZ twins compared with DZ twins?
a. Environmental factors are substantially responsible for the difference in correlation.
b. Genetic factors are substantially responsible for the difference in correlation.
c. Environmental and genetic factors are equally responsible for the difference in correlation.
d. No assumption can be made as to the contributions of environmental or genetic factors for the difference.
b. Genetic factors are substantially responsible for the difference in correlation.
- Which response would be consistent with the statement “High heritability does not imply immutability”?
a. The concept of inheritance plays a very small role in dictating an individual’s phenotype.
b. Highly heritable traits affect all individuals in the same way.
c. Intervention efforts can successfully influence the course of development related to an inherited trait.
d. There is little point in trying to improve the course of development related to an inherited trait.
c. Intervention efforts can successfully influence the course of development related to an inherited trait.
- The points at which neurons communicate with one another are called
a. synapses.
b. glial cells.
c. dendrites.
d. myelin sheaths.
a. synapses.
- The process of synaptogenesis
a. involves the formation of connections between neurons.
b. causes the elimination of excess neurons.
c. is basically complete before birth.
d.is the proliferation of neurons through cell division.
a. involves the formation of connections between neurons.
- The capacity of the brain to be molded or changed by experience is referred to as
a. synaptogenesis.
b. associative learning.
c. plasticity.
d. neurogenesis.
c. plasticity.
- Rats that are raised in cages with toys develop more dendritic spines and more synapses per neuron than rats raised in cages without this stimulation. The different responses in the brains of these two groups of rats provide an example of which biological process?
a. Sensitive periods
b. Experience-expectant plasticity
c. Experience-dependent plasticity
d. Neurogenesis
c. Experience-dependent plasticity
- Average at-birth length has increased in some industrialized nations over the course of the past few generations, possibly due to improvements in health and nutrition for pregnant people. This development is an example of
a. experience-expectant plasticity.
b. secular trends.
c. obesity.
d. genotype–environment interactions.
b. secular trends.
- Belle is 3 years old. She loves bananas and other yellow foods, but when her father places a piece of broccoli, which she has never eaten, on her plate, she closes her mouth and refuses to open it. Belle is demonstrating
a. undernutrition.
b. associative learning.
c. experience-expectant plasticity.
d. food neophobia.
d. food neophobia.
- Epigenetic effects have been demonstrated in studies with rats in which the absence of specific grooming behaviors from the mother results in reduced levels of glucocorticoid receptor gene activity in her pups. This processing of gene expression silencing is known as
a. experience-expectant plasticity.
b. myelination.
c. synaptic pruning.
d. methylation.
d. methylation.
- Which is not a function of glial cells?
a. Conduct electrical signals away from one neuron and to another.
b. Guide neurons to their final destinations within the growing brain.
c. Aid in the regeneration of neurons following injury.
d. Support the formation of myelin sheaths around axons.
a. Conduct electrical signals away from one neuron and to another.
