Scenario I The Following Scenario Is Based on and Presents Fabricated Data

question 6

Multiple Choice

Scenario I
The following scenario is based on and presents fabricated data consistent with the following study:
Caspi, A., Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Taylor, A., Craig, I. W., Harrington, H., McClay, J., Mill, J., Martin, J., Braithwaite, A., and Poulton, R. (2003) . Influence of life stress on depression: Moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene. Science, 301(5631) , 386-389.
The serotonin transporter gene codes for the serotonin transporter, a protein that transports serotonin from the synapse to the presynaptic neuron. Several polymorphisms of the gene exist, including a "short" (s) and a "long" (l) variation. As humans receive one copy of the gene from each parent, people can be grouped into three groups based on this genetic variation: s/s (two copies of the short gene) , s/l, and l/l. Caspi et al. (2003) interviewed participants in each of these groups and asked them a wide range of questions to determine both the degree of exposure to stress and the number of depressive episodes participants had experienced in their lives. Fabricated results consistent with their major findings are shown in Figure 3.1.
Figure 3.1
-(Scenario I) Which statement is NOT true about the relationship between genetic variation and depression under conditions of high stress?

• A)Persons in the s/s group were more likely to experience a depressive episode than the other two groups.
• B)Persons in the l/l group seem to have been protected from experiencing a depressive episode relative to the other groups.
• C)The vulnerability for depression increased with increases in life stress for all groups.
• D)A gene × environment interaction was observed.

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