Heredity and Environment

Which of the follow scenarios is the best example of natural selection?

A During a drought, the foliage in a region turns brown. More brownish moths than whitish moths from a particular breed survive predation and produce more offspring. Subsequent generations of moths have a higher percentage of brownish moths than the generation before.

B During a hurricane, both brownish and whitish moths are killed in approximately equal numbers by the storm. The population of moths is substantially reduced.

C Just before the moth breeding season, the weather conditions result in an unusual abundance of food. With so much food, the moth population increases dramatically, regardless of color.

D An increase in predation substantially reduces the population of adult brownish and whitish moths. Relatively few moths survive to breed, and the population is reduced in the next generation.

E Farmers in the region spray a pesticide that kills many of the moths in the region, as well as several other types of insects. The population of moths is substantially reduced.

Areas that have a large prevalence of malaria, such as Africa, have a high frequency of children who have sickle cell anemia or are carriers of the trait. What role does the concept of natural selection play in this trend?

A The climate in Africa is particularly suitable for both malaria and sickle cell anemia, and thus both are able to flourish in the region.

B Being a carrier of, or having sickle cell anemia is adaptive in this region, because it protects against malaria. Subsequently, children born with sickle cell anemia are less likely to die from malaria.

C People with sickle cell anemia are more prone to contracting malaria, which explains why the incidence of both is so high.

D Having malaria as a child changes women’s genetic makeup, making them more likely to pass on the sickle cell gene to their child.

E Areas with a large prevalence of malaria often do not have adequate medical care and thus there are higher frequencies of a large number of diseases.

Ruth and Debbie are identical twins who were raised by the same family. Vince and Frankie are identical twins who were separated at birth and raised by different families. According to research on the heritability of personality traits, Ruth's and Debbie's personalities are statistically

A more likely to be similar to one another than are Vince’s and Frankie’s personalities

B likely to be as similar and dissimilar to one another as are Vince’s and Frankie’s personalities

C more likely to be dissimilar to one another than are Vince’s and Frankie’s personalities

D less likely to match on the personality dimensions of agreeableness and extraversion than are Vince and Frankie but not on other personality dimensions

E less likely to match on the personality dimensions of openness and neuroticism than are Vince and Frankie but not on other personality dimensions

Johnny often hits his brother even though his brother does not do anything to antagonize him. Johnny’s aggression is most likely due to a combination of

A his genetic makeup, the fact that aggression can be evolutionarily adaptive, and a lack of neuroplasticity

B developmental delays, the fact that aggression can be evolutionarily adaptive, and a lack of neuroplasticity

C the environment he grew up in, developmental delays, and the fact that aggression can be evolutionarily adaptive

D his genetic makeup, developmental delays, and a lack of neuroplasticity

E his genetic makeup, the environment he grew up in, and the fact that aggression can be evolutionarily adaptive

Madeline has previously been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. She has an identical twin sister, Josephine, and a nonidentical sister, Abigail. Neither of Madeline’s sisters have previously been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which of the following statements is true of Madeline’s sisters?

A Because their sister has been diagnosed, it is highly likely that both sisters will be diagnosed with major depressive disorder at some point in their lives.

B Neither sister is likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder because it is rare for family members to be diagnosed with the same disorder.

C The sisters are equally likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder in response to a stressful or traumatic event.

D Josephine is less likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder than Abigail in response to a stressful or traumatic event.

E Josephine is more likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder than Abigail in response to a stressful or traumatic event.