Someone Claims That "If a Characteristic Is Highly Heritable, Then

question 125

Multiple Choice

Someone claims that "if a characteristic is highly heritable, then we cannot change that characteristic by changing the environment." An example that argues strongly against this claim is that

• A) monozygotic twins resemble each other more than dizygotic twins do, for a wide variety of behaviors.
• B) adopted children resemble their biological parents with regard to many physical and behavioral conditions.
• C) a special diet can prevent the mental retardation associated with PKU.
• D) people with two genes for Huntington's disease get the disease, but people with only one such gene do not.

---

Definitions:

Social Change

The alteration over time in the structure, cultural patterns, and norms of a society, often resulting from factors like technological innovations, economic shifts, or social movements.

GI Bill

A law that provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as GIs), including low-cost mortgages, loans to start a business or farm, and tuition and living expenses to attend college or vocational school.

Mass Production

The large-scale manufacturing of goods through standardized processes, allowing for the efficient production of large quantities of identical items.

Age-sex Pyramid

A graphical representation of the age and sex distribution of a population, typically a bar graph, which provides insights into demographic trends and potential social and economic impacts.