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.

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Definitions:

Gastropods

A class of mollusks typically having a one-piece coiled shell and including snails, slugs, and whelks, which are primarily marine, but also found in freshwater and terrestrial environments.

Gastrovascular Cavity

A central cavity in certain simple organisms, such as cnidarians, serving both digestive and circulatory functions.

Tentacle

Flexible, often elongated appendages found in some animals, like octopuses and jellyfish, used for sensation, locomotion, and feeding.

Cnidarians

Cnidarians are a phylum of aquatic invertebrates that include jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, characterized by a simple body plan with a mouth surrounded by tentacles.