Question
3
People's genes determine which traits they inherit.
What information in the article supports this statement? Audio
"How did that happen? How can evolution cause a species to lose a trait? It’s a mystery that evolutionary scientists have been struggling to unravel. The search for an answer gives us a fascinating look at how evolution works." Audio
"We usually think of evolution as a process in which species acquire new traits. But in cave fishes we have an example of regressive evolution, a process in which species lose a trait—in this case, the ability to see." Audio
"...you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents. However, if you have an accident and lose a finger, your children will still be born with five fingers on each hand. If you lift weights and become a body builder, it doesn’t mean your children will be born with bulging biceps. In each case, your genes haven’t changed—even though your body has." Audio
"The scientists knew that there are many genes responsible for the development of each part of an eye (for example, the retina, iris, cornea and lens). Each part develops independently. The results of the experiment showed that the genes for eye development in the Mexican tetra were all ready to work properly, given the correct signal." Audio
People's genes determine which traits they inherit.
What information in the article supports this statement? Audio
"How did that happen? How can evolution cause a species to lose a trait? It’s a mystery that evolutionary scientists have been struggling to unravel. The search for an answer gives us a fascinating look at how evolution works." Audio
"We usually think of evolution as a process in which species acquire new traits. But in cave fishes we have an example of regressive evolution, a process in which species lose a trait—in this case, the ability to see." Audio
"...you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents. However, if you have an accident and lose a finger, your children will still be born with five fingers on each hand. If you lift weights and become a body builder, it doesn’t mean your children will be born with bulging biceps. In each case, your genes haven’t changed—even though your body has." Audio
"The scientists knew that there are many genes responsible for the development of each part of an eye (for example, the retina, iris, cornea and lens). Each part develops independently. The results of the experiment showed that the genes for eye development in the Mexican tetra were all ready to work properly, given the correct signal." Audio
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The statement "People's genes determine which traits they inherit" is supported by the following information from the article:
1. The mention of genes passed from parents to children, as illustrated by the example that you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents. This demonstrates that inherited traits are determined by parental genes.
2. The example of losing a finger due to an accident, yet children being born with the typical five fingers, reinforces the idea that physical changes in an individual's body do not affect the genetic information passed on to offspring. This further supports the idea that genes dictate inherited traits rather than individual experiences or changes.
3. The discussion about the genes responsible for eye development in the Mexican tetra, where each part of the eye develops independently based on genetic signals, highlights that specific traits (like the ability to see) are governed by underlying genetic instructions.
These points collectively illustrate how genetic inheritance determines the traits individuals possess, irrespective of personal changes or environmental influences.
1. The mention of genes passed from parents to children, as illustrated by the example that you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents. This demonstrates that inherited traits are determined by parental genes.
2. The example of losing a finger due to an accident, yet children being born with the typical five fingers, reinforces the idea that physical changes in an individual's body do not affect the genetic information passed on to offspring. This further supports the idea that genes dictate inherited traits rather than individual experiences or changes.
3. The discussion about the genes responsible for eye development in the Mexican tetra, where each part of the eye develops independently based on genetic signals, highlights that specific traits (like the ability to see) are governed by underlying genetic instructions.
These points collectively illustrate how genetic inheritance determines the traits individuals possess, irrespective of personal changes or environmental influences.