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Module 1.1

1.1-2 How do behavior geneticists explain our • Shared family environments have little effect on person-

individual differences? ality, although parenting does influence other factors.
• Behavior geneticists study the relative power and limits of 1.1-4 How do heredity and environment work

genetic and environmental influences on behavior. together?
• Most of our differing traits are polygenetic, and are influ-
enced by the interaction of our individual environments • Our genetic predispositions and our surrounding envi-
with these genetic predispositions. ronments interact. Environments can trigger genetic ex-
pression, and genetically influenced traits can influence

1.1-3 How do twin and adoption studies help us the experiences we seek and the responses we evoke
understand the effects and interactions of nature from others.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
and nurture? • The field of epigenetics studies the molecular mechanisms
• Studies of identical (monozygotic) twins versus fraternal by which environments can trigger or block genetic
(dizygotic) twins, separated twins, and biological versus expression.
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
adoptive relatives allow researchers to consider the effects
of shared environment and shared genes, which sheds
light on how nature and nurture influence our traits.

®

AP Practice Multiple Choice Questions

1. Dr. Grant conducted a study examining the extent to 3. Dr. Yondu believes that having good social skills improves

which humans share genes with each other and with emotional stability. He conducts an experiment in which
other animals. She is also interested in understanding 100 children are randomly assigned to one of two condi-
how genes contribute to behavior. Which conclusion tions. One group of children receives a social skills inter-
would Dr. Grant most likely reach based on her research vention, while the other group of children listens to an
and the results of previous research? instructional talk about how to whistle. Both groups com-
a. Chimpanzees share very few genes with humans. plete an emotional stability questionnaire four weeks later.
b. Complex behaviors are determined by specific What does Dr. Yondu’s independent variable measure?

individual genes. a. The impact of nature
c. Human genes are mostly the same across all people. b. The impact of epigenetics

d. Genetic predispositions do not explain our shared c. The impact of nurture
human nature. d. The impact of evolution
2. Dr. Koulianos conducted a study on 1000 sets of identical 4. Dr. Quill wants to conduct a study on how heredity may

and fraternal twin pairs being raised in the same house- influence musical ability. Which of the following would
hold versus in different households to determine which be the best operational definition for his dependent
twin pairs were most similar in their athletic abilities. variable?
Based on previous research, who should Dr. Koulianos a. Compare the genes of master musicians to the genes

expect to be most alike? of individuals without musical aptitude.

a. Fraternal twins raised in the same households b. Rate the quality of musical performance from 1
b. Identical twins raised in different households (indicating poor performance) to 5 (indicating
c. Fraternal twins raised in different households superior performance).

d. Identical twins raised in the same households c. Provide musical instruments to one group of children
and provide no musical instruments to a second
group of children.
d. Assign one group of pregnant women to listen to

music daily and assign a second group of pregnant
women to avoid music.

Interaction of Heredity and Environment Module 1.1 19

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