One Way to Understand How Early Environment Influences Differing Behaviors

question 50

Multiple Choice

One way to understand how early environment influences differing behaviors in similar species is through the "cross-fostering" experimental technique. Suppose that the curly-whiskered mud rat differs from the bald mud rat in several ways, including being much more aggressive. How would you set up a cross-fostering experiment to determine if environment plays a role in the curly-whiskered mud rat's aggression?

• A)You would cross curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats and hand-rear the offspring.
• B)You would place newborn curly-whiskered mud rats with bald mud rat parents, place newborn bald mud rats with curly-whiskered mud rat parents, and let some mud rats of both species be raised by their own species. Then compare the outcomes.
• C)You would remove the offspring of curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats from their parents and raise them in the same environment.
• D)You would see if curly-whiskered mud rats bred True for aggression.
• E)None of these schemes describes cross-fostering.

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Definitions:

Pathogen

An organism, typically a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism, that can cause disease in its host.

Inhalation

The act of breathing in; drawing air or other substances into the lungs.

Physical Contact

The act of two or more objects or substances touching or coming into direct interaction with each other.

Ingestion

The act of taking food, drink, or another substance into the body through the mouth.