Question 1
Which of the following scenarios most accurately represents a passive gene-environment correlation?
A. A child with a genetic predisposition for athleticism actively seeks out sports teams and training. B. Parents who are musically talented provide their child with music lessons, and the child also has a genetic predisposition for musicality. C. A naturally shy individual avoids social gatherings, leading to fewer opportunities for social interaction. D. A child with a difficult temperament evokes negative reactions from caregivers, which in turn exacerbates their behavioral issues.
Question 2
If a heritability estimate ($h^2$) for a specific personality trait is found to be $0.55$ in a given population, what does this imply?
A. $\displaystyle 55\%$ of an individual's personality is determined by their genes. B. $\displaystyle 55\%$ of the variation in the personality trait within that population is attributable to genetic factors. C. The personality trait is $\displaystyle 55\%$ inherited from parents to offspring. D. Environmental factors account for $\displaystyle 55\%$ of the personality trait.
Question 3
Epigenetic mechanisms primarily influence behavior by:
A. Altering the DNA sequence of genes, leading to new traits. B. Changing the structure of chromosomes, resulting in genetic mutations. C. Modifying gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence. D. Directly transmitting learned behaviors from parents to offspring.
Question 4
What is the primary advantage of using adoption studies over twin studies when trying to separate genetic and environmental influences on behavior?
A. Adoption studies allow for a direct comparison of individuals with identical genes raised in different environments. B. Adoption studies can completely eliminate the influence of shared environment. C. Adoption studies provide a clearer separation of genetic and environmental influences by comparing adopted children to both biological and adoptive parents. D. Adoption studies are less susceptible to selective placement biases than twin studies.
Question 5
Consider a gene that codes for a neurotransmitter receptor. A specific allele of this gene is associated with increased sensitivity to stress, but only in individuals who have experienced early childhood adversity. This is an example of:
A. Gene-environment correlation B. Heritability estimate C. Gene-environment interaction D. Epigenetic modification
