Question
People's genes determine which traits they inherit.
What information in the article supports this statement?
"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."
"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."
"...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."
"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."
What information in the article supports this statement?
"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."
"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."
"...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."
"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."
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The article supports the statement that people's genes determine which traits they inherit through several key points:
1. **Genes from Parents**: The article explicitly states, "you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents." This indicates that the traits an individual possesses are directly linked to the genetic material inherited from their parents.
2. **Inheritance of Traits**: The example of losing a finger due to an accident illustrates that physical changes or losses in an individual's body do not affect the genetic information passed on to the next generation. The text states, "your children will still be born with five fingers on each hand," reinforcing the idea that the inherited traits are determined by genes rather than by the experiences or changes of an individual.
3. **Regressive Evolution and Gene Function**: The mention of cave fishes and their loss of sight due to regressive evolution suggests that certain traits can diminish due to changes in genetic expression over time. The text notes, "the genes for eye development in the Mexican tetra were all ready to work properly," indicating that the potential for certain traits exists within the genetics, even if those traits are not expressed in all environments.
Overall, these points illustrate that genes are the fundamental determinants of inherited traits, irrespective of personal experiences or environmental factors.
1. **Genes from Parents**: The article explicitly states, "you have five fingers on each hand because of the genes you got from your parents." This indicates that the traits an individual possesses are directly linked to the genetic material inherited from their parents.
2. **Inheritance of Traits**: The example of losing a finger due to an accident illustrates that physical changes or losses in an individual's body do not affect the genetic information passed on to the next generation. The text states, "your children will still be born with five fingers on each hand," reinforcing the idea that the inherited traits are determined by genes rather than by the experiences or changes of an individual.
3. **Regressive Evolution and Gene Function**: The mention of cave fishes and their loss of sight due to regressive evolution suggests that certain traits can diminish due to changes in genetic expression over time. The text notes, "the genes for eye development in the Mexican tetra were all ready to work properly," indicating that the potential for certain traits exists within the genetics, even if those traits are not expressed in all environments.
Overall, these points illustrate that genes are the fundamental determinants of inherited traits, irrespective of personal experiences or environmental factors.