Research Evidence Links Paternal Age to the Development of Schizophrenia

question 111

Multiple Choice

Research evidence links paternal age to the development of schizophrenia. What is the best explanation for why offspring of a father aged 45 or older might be at higher risk for developing schizophrenia?

• A)Older fathers are more psychologically unstable than younger fathers.
• B)Older fathers are more likely to die when their offspring are still children, and the trauma of losing a father during childhood can trigger schizophrenia in a vulnerable child.
• C)As sperm cells continually divide and reproduce over time, they can accumulate genetic mutations that can be passed on to offspring.
• D)By the time a male is 45 or older, his sperm cells have undergone the maximum number of cell divisions of 200 and are therefore more likely to have the maximum number of genetic mutations, which can be passed on to his offspring.

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Definitions:

Returns to Scale

The rate at which output increases as inputs are increased proportionally in the production process.

Scale of Production

The level at which a production process is operating, ranging from small to large scale based on output volume and capacity.

Economies of Scale

Cost advantages that enterprises obtain due to their scale of operation, with cost per unit of output decreasing with increasing scale.

Average Total Cost

The total cost of production divided by the total quantity produced, indicating the per unit cost of production.