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1
Family studies alone cannot tell us whether a trait is genetically transmitted because families share not only genes but also similar living environments.
2
The theory of natural selection explains the process of evolution. It maintains that inherited characteristics that give an organism a survival or reproductive advantage are passed on more often to future generations than other inherited characteristics.
3
This trait is not likely to be more adaptive. As far as natural selection is concerned, survival alone isn’t enough. What matters is that a person survives long enough to reproduce and pass on the trait. A person would be unable to pass on the trait regardless of whether he or she died at six or at four.
4
Mutations occur during the formation of egg and sperm cells, when an error occurs as DNA is being copied or when small pieces of DNA exchange places in a chromosome pair.
5
Adoption studies compare adopted children to their biological and adoptive parents. If the children are more similar in a trait to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents, the trait may be genetically transmitted.
