Heredity and Environment MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Heredity and Environment - Download Free PDF

The term growth is a subset of development and is limited to quantitative changes taking place in an individual. The process of growth stops when maturity is attained. The outcomes of growth are easy to observe and measure such as an increase in height, weight, body mass index, etc.

Key Points

The individual's growth is related to the interaction between heredity and environment. So, to understand an individual's growth, it is important to consider both inherited characteristics as well as environmental factors and their interplay.

'Heredity and Environment' are complementary in determining the growth of an individual as: ​

• The color of eyes, hair, skin, height, etc is determined by heredity.
• All the inborn traits, instincts, potentials, and IQ of an individual depend on the heredity.​
• all the potential inputs for growth and development depend on heredity.
• For example: If both the parents of a child are of short height, then the chance for being the short height of the child naturally is nearly 100% sure.

Hence, it could be concluded that the effect of the relation of heredity & environment on the individual's growth, occurs in this way 'Heredity × Environment affects the individual'.

Important Points

• Heredity: It refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring. It is the most important personality and intelligence determinant.
• Environment: It refers to the circumstances in which an individual lives. Child's immediate environment strongly influenced their personality and intelligence.

The correct answer is No.

Key Points

• Intelligence is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and not solely by the intelligence of parents.
• Environmental factors such as quality of education, socio-economic status, and access to resources play a significant role in a child's academic performance.
• Parenting style, including support and encouragement, can greatly impact a child’s motivation and success in studies.
• Studies show that while there is a hereditary component to intelligence, it does not deterministically predict academic achievement.
• Every child has unique capabilities and learning styles, and these individual differences must be taken into account.

Additional Information

• Heritability of Intelligence
  • Heritability estimates for intelligence range from 40% to 80%, indicating a significant but not exclusive genetic influence.
  • Heritability can vary depending on the population studied and the socio-economic environment.
• Role of Environment
  • Environmental factors such as nutrition, education, and parental involvement are crucial in developing a child’s cognitive abilities.
  • Early childhood interventions and stimulating home environments can enhance intellectual development.
• Parenting Styles
  • Authoritative parenting, characterized by warmth and structure, is positively associated with academic success.
  • Parental expectations and involvement in a child’s education can boost motivation and performance.
• Individual Differences
  • Children have different learning styles and paces; personalized approaches can optimize learning outcomes.
  • Recognizing and nurturing a child’s unique talents and interests can lead to better academic and personal growth.

Mendel’s laws, also known as Mendelian inheritance, describe how traits are passed down from one generation to the next through genes.

• Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, discovered these principles through his work with pea plants, laying the foundation for the study of heredity.

Key Points

• The law of Mendel is directly related to heredity.
• Mendel’s laws—Law of Segregation and Law of Independent Assortment—explain how genes are inherited from parents to offspring.
• These laws describe the inheritance patterns of traits based on the behavior of alleles during gamete formation and fertilization.

Hint

• Environment affects how traits are expressed, but Mendel's laws focus on genetic inheritance rather than environmental influences.
• Learning and exercise are unrelated to the inheritance of genetic traits.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Heredity'.

Sex determination in humans is governed by the combination of sex chromosomes inherited from the parents.

• The two main types of sex chromosomes are the X and Y chromosomes, and their combination determines an individual’s biological sex.
• Understanding how these chromosomes function is essential to understanding human genetics and reproduction.

Key Points

• The XY chromosome combination is the key mechanism for sex determination in humans.
• Individuals with XY chromosomes are typically male, while individuals with XX chromosomes are typically female.
• The presence of the Y chromosome determines male sex characteristics, as it contains the SRY gene that triggers the development of male sex organs. Therefore, XY chromosomes are indeed responsible for sex determination.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Right'.

Chromosomes are structures found in the nucleus of cells, carrying genetic information in the form of DNA.

• In humans and many other organisms, sex chromosomes determine the biological sex of an individual.

Key Points

Sex chromosomes are the chromosomes that determine the biological sex of an individual. In humans:

• X Chromosome: Females have two X chromosomes (XX), which are responsible for carrying many vital genes, including those related to the development of female characteristics.
• Y Chromosome: Males typically have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which triggers male development.
• The combination of these two types of chromosomes, X and Y, determines the sex of the individual. While "XX" represents the female chromosomal configuration, and "XY" represents the male configuration, the individual chromosomes X and Y are specifically referred to as sex chromosomes.

Hence, the correct answer is XY Chromosomes.

Development refers to an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs. It is a product of the interaction of hereditary and the environment.

• Development takes place when environmental forces interact with the hereditary forces in an organism as they are the elements that play a vital role in determining the development of an individual.

Key Points

• The belief that children's behavior can be modified by reinforcers and punishers is based on the idea that development is primarily influenced by the environment only.
• A reinforcer increases the probability of a behavior it is contingent on; a punisher decreases the probability.
• Behavior modification involves assessing and modifying the current environmental events that are functionally related to the behavior.
• Human behavior is controlled by events in the immediate environment, and the goal of behavior modification is to identify those events. 
• Environment refers to the circumstances in which an individual lives. Child's immediate environment strongly influenced their behavior, development, personality, and intelligence.
• All mental and social traits depend on the environment. Environment determines the numeric position of IQ within these limits.

Hence it could be concluded that the belief that children's behaviour can be modified by reinforcers and punishers is based on the idea that development is primarily influenced by environment only.

Additional Information 

• Heredity: It refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring. It is the most important personality and intelligence determinant.
• If the contingent event makes it more probable that the person will behave in a similar way when in a similar situation, the event is called a reinforcer.
• On the other hand, if the contingent event makes the behaviour less probable, then the event is called a punisher.

The correct answer is Gregor Mendel.

• Gregor Mendel:
  • Through his work on pea plants, discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance.
  • He is known as father of genetics.

Additional Information

• T.H. Morgan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933 for his discoveries concerning the role played by the chromosome in heredity.
• Charles Darwin is best known for his contributions to the theory of natural selection.
• James Watson, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, credited with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule.
• A. I. Oparin was a Soviet biochemist and was best known for his theories of the origin of life.

Cognitive development involves areas such as problem-solving, moral understanding, and conceptual understanding; language acquisition; social, personality, and emotional development, and self-concept and identity formation. The risk factors and interventions influencing cognitive development in children can be divided into three domains: nutrition, environment, and maternal-child interactions.

There are many theories on cognitive development are given such as:

• Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory
• Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Perspective on Learning and Cognitive Development.​

Key PointsAccording to Vygotsky's sociocultural perspective on learning and cognitive development:

• Children continuously learn in their everyday engagements with peers and adults. And thinking and knowledge developed in this process of learning.
• Children’s sociocultural milieu (environment) guides their development towards adult-like thinking.
• Cognitive abilities are substantially influenced by genes, with approximately half of the variance in general cognition attributed to genetic factors.
• So by all these, we can say that Cognitive development is the result of both heredity and environment.
  • Hence option (3) is the correct answer.

Additional Information 

• Piaget ignores heredity and environment in the cognitive development of the child, according to him, the child learns by his perceptions and his thought processes. 
• Piaget's theory of cognitive development is divided into four stages, sensory-motor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage.
• Vygotsky's theory also considers the three basic needs for the development of the students as-  social interaction, culture, and language.

According to question girl’s parents are sportspersons and she obtained training from coaching. Both of her parents are sportspersons. So, we can say that her capabilities depend on heredity and the environment.

• The individual’s personality is the product of both heredity and environment.
• Heredity determines the potential of a child, while the Environment influences the extent to which that potential is achieved.

Role of Heredity and Environment:

Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that the girl's capabilities are most likely to be the result of an interaction between heredity and environment.

Heredity refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring.

Key PointsIt is the most important personality determinant that determines how far we can go. 

• For example: If both the parents of a child are of short height, then the chance of being the short height of the child naturally is nearly 100% sure.
• How a person will develop depends on the environment but how far a person can develop depends on heredity. 
• In the above question, option 3rd is neglected because it contains a word for the surety in the future, i.e 'will' and we cannot be 100% sure of some indefinite event in the future.

Hence, from the above points, we can clearly infer that the effect of heredity upon development is best defined by how far we can go.

Heredity and environment are the elements that play a vital role in determining the personality development of an individual. How a person will develop depends on the environment but how far a person can develop depends on heredity. 

Key Points

The role of hereditary and environment in the development of a child can be understood by the following points-

• The relative contributions of peers and genes are not additive, but they are productive(dependent on each other).
• It is defined by J.S. Ross. According to him, the form in which a child grows is just because of heredity.
• Heredity gives us the abilities for development, which are used by the environment.
• Height, Complexion, colours of eyes are varied from person to person due to heredity and their features.
• The individual is the result of multiplication between heredity and environment.
• The individual is represented by the area of a rectangle, whereas heredity is the base and environment is the height. The area of the rectangle does not depend merely upon the base or height, it depends on both. Similarly, the individual is a result of heredity and environment. Hence, The development of hereditary potentialities is a matter of environment. A = b x h

• 'Without the environment, heredity is useless and the environment without heredity means nothing.' 

• These observable characteristics of an individual are the result of the interaction between the person’s inherited traits and the environment.

               Development = environment × heredity;

Thus from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that the relative contributions of peers and genes are not additive is true about the role of heredity and environment in the development of a child.

The term growth is a subset of development and is limited to quantitative changes taking place in an individual. The process of growth stops when maturity is attained. The outcomes of growth are easy to observe and measure such as an increase in height, weight, body mass index, etc.

Key Points

The individual's growth is related to the interaction between heredity and environment. So, to understand an individual's growth, it is important to consider both inherited characteristics as well as environmental factors and their interplay.

'Heredity and Environment' are complementary in determining the growth of an individual as: ​

• The color of eyes, hair, skin, height, etc is determined by heredity.
• All the inborn traits, instincts, potentials, and IQ of an individual depend on the heredity.​
• all the potential inputs for growth and development depend on heredity.
• For example: If both the parents of a child are of short height, then the chance for being the short height of the child naturally is nearly 100% sure.

Hence, it could be concluded that the effect of the relation of heredity & environment on the individual's growth, occurs in this way 'Heredity × Environment affects the individual'.

Important Points

• Heredity: It refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring. It is the most important personality and intelligence determinant.
• Environment: It refers to the circumstances in which an individual lives. Child's immediate environment strongly influenced their personality and intelligence.

• Development refers to a qualitative change that results in an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs.
• Growth refers to a quantitative change that results in an increase in height, weight, and length of the child.

Human growth and development is influenced by both 'Hereditary and Environment' as they are the elements that play a vital role in determining the development of an individual.

The relative effects of heredity and environment vary in different areas of development​ as:

• All mental and social traits depend on the environment.
• All the inborn traits, instincts, and I. Q. depend on heredity.
• All the potential inputs for growth and development depend on heredity.
• Both are complementary to each other in molding the life of an individual.
• How a person will develop depends on the environment but how far a person can develop depends on heredity.
• Heredity places limit on IQ and the environment determines the numeric position of IQ within these limits.

Hence, it could be concluded that the relative effects of heredity and environment vary in different areas of development.

Important Points

• Heredity: It refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring. It is the most important personality and intelligence determinant.
• Environment: It refers to the circumstances in which an individual lives. Child's immediate environment strongly influenced their personality and intelligence.

Hereditary Diseases are passed on from one generation to another through defective genes.

• These diseases are transmitted in the same family.
• The chromosomes in humans are responsible for passing the traits from the parent to the offspring.

Important Points Phenylketonuria is a hereditary disease.

• Phenylketonuria (commonly known as PKU) is an inherited disorder that increases the levels of a substance called phenylalanine in the blood.
• Phenylalanine is a building block of proteins that is obtained through the diet.
• It is found in all proteins and in some artificial sweeteners.
• If PKU is not treated, phenylalanine can build up to harmful levels in the body, causing intellectual disability and other serious health problems.
• PKU is inherited from a person's parents.
• Babies born to mothers who have PKU and uncontrolled phenylalanine levels have a significant risk of intellectual disability.

Hence, it is concluded that Phenylkitonuria disease is hereditary.

Additional Information

• ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.
• Parkinson's disease is a neurological movement disorder. Common symptoms include tremor, slowness of movement, stiff muscles, unsteady walk and balance, and coordination problems.
• HIV causes AIDS and interferes with the body's ability to fight infections. The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood.

Development refers to a qualitative change that results in an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs. Growth refers to a quantitative change that results in an increase in height, weight, and length of the child.

Key Points

Human growth and development are influenced by both 'Hereditary and Environment' as they are the elements that play a vital role in determining the development of an individual.

The relative effects of heredity and environment vary in different areas of development​ as:

• All mental and social traits depend on the environment.
• All the inborn traits, instincts, and I.Q. depend on heredity.
• All the potential inputs for growth and development depend on heredity.
• Both are complementary to each other in molding the life of an individual.
• How a person will develop depends on the environment but how far a person can develop depends on heredity.
• Heredity places limit on IQ and the environment determines the numeric position of IQ within these limits.

Hence, it could be concluded that the relative effects of heredity and environment vary in different areas of development.

Hint

• Heredity: It refers to the traits that pass down from the parents to their offspring. It is the most important personality and intelligence determinant.
• Environment: It refers to the circumstances in which an individual lives. Child's immediate environment strongly influences their personality and intelligence.