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souvik101990
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Expert reply
17 Aug 2015, 08:36
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A recent study of the eggs of tree frogs in Panama has provided insights into the concept of phenotypic plasticity. A biologist that studied the eggs observed that they would normally hatch a week after they were laid. However, by touching the eggs, the biologist could induce them to hatch immediately. The biologist likened this touch to the vibrations from an attacking snake. The implication was that the egg, even at an early stage, was flexible. It could either wait its usual full term to hatch, or hatch immediately in response to an environmental stressor. This example demonstrates phenotypic plasticity, which is the flexibility an organism has in expressing its genes. The phenotype is the expression of the genotype, or genetic makeup, and “plasticity” means the ability to change or adapt. Put another way, genotype is the inherited instructions that an organism receives from its genes, while phenotype is its physical appearance and actions.
Early theories of genetics relied on a direct cause model: everything about an organism, including its phenotype, was determined by its genotype. Phenotypic plasticity, on the other hand, allows for the inclusion of environmental factors. For example, some types of plants can allocate more resources to their roots when growing in low-nutrient soil, or change the size and thickness of their leaves in response to the amount of sunlight they receive. Although genes certainly play a major role, individual organisms are not different simply because they have different genes. Rather, organisms can express phenotypic differences in response to variations in ecosystem, diet, temperature and climate.
In the first paragraph, the passage suggests that which of the following is true?
A. The amount of time that tree frog eggs take to hatch is relatively fixed, with little variation
B. Even before they hatch, tree frogs eggs are able to respond to stimuli from the environment
C. An organism’s phenotype will always be expressed in the same way
D. A tree frog egg will only hatch when the egg is fully mature
E. An organism’s genotype can vary according to its environment
Early theories of genetics relied on a direct cause model: everything about an organism, including its phenotype, was determined by its genotype. Phenotypic plasticity, on the other hand, allows for the inclusion of environmental factors. For example, some types of plants can allocate more resources to their roots when growing in low-nutrient soil, or change the size and thickness of their leaves in response to the amount of sunlight they receive. Although genes certainly play a major role, individual organisms are not different simply because they have different genes. Rather, organisms can express phenotypic differences in response to variations in ecosystem, diet, temperature and climate.
In the first paragraph, the passage suggests that which of the following is true?
A. The amount of time that tree frog eggs take to hatch is relatively fixed, with little variation
B. Even before they hatch, tree frogs eggs are able to respond to stimuli from the environment
C. An organism’s phenotype will always be expressed in the same way
D. A tree frog egg will only hatch when the egg is fully mature
E. An organism’s genotype can vary according to its environment
souvik101990
Expert
Alum
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,313
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2,326
Location: United States (WA)
Concentration: Leadership, General Management
Schools: Ross '20 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Expert reply
17 Aug 2015, 08:36
Kudos
Bookmarks
Official Solution:
A recent study of the eggs of tree frogs in Panama has provided insights into the concept of phenotypic plasticity. A biologist that studied the eggs observed that they would normally hatch a week after they were laid. However, by touching the eggs, the biologist could induce them to hatch immediately. The biologist likened this touch to the vibrations from an attacking snake. The implication was that the egg, even at an early stage, was flexible. It could either wait its usual full term to hatch, or hatch immediately in response to an environmental stressor. This example demonstrates phenotypic plasticity, which is the flexibility an organism has in expressing its genes. The phenotype is the expression of the genotype, or genetic makeup, and “plasticity” means the ability to change or adapt. Put another way, genotype is the inherited instructions that an organism receives from its genes, while phenotype is its physical appearance and actions.
Early theories of genetics relied on a direct cause model: everything about an organism, including its phenotype, was determined by its genotype. Phenotypic plasticity, on the other hand, allows for the inclusion of environmental factors. For example, some types of plants can allocate more resources to their roots when growing in low-nutrient soil, or change the size and thickness of their leaves in response to the amount of sunlight they receive. Although genes certainly play a major role, individual organisms are not different simply because they have different genes. Rather, organisms can express phenotypic differences in response to variations in ecosystem, diet, temperature and climate.
In the first paragraph, the passage suggests that which of the following is true?
A. The amount of time that tree frog eggs take to hatch is relatively fixed, with little variation
B. Even before they hatch, tree frogs eggs are able to respond to stimuli from the environment
C. An organism’s phenotype will always be expressed in the same way
D. A tree frog egg will only hatch when the egg is fully mature
E. An organism’s genotype can vary according to its environment
(A) The paragraph says the opposite of this answer choice: the amount of time is actually flexible.
(B) Correct. The passage states the egg can be induced to hatch immediately in response to an environmental stressor.
(C) The passage states the opposite of this answer choice.
(D) The passage states that there is variation in the amount of time it takes for an egg to hatch.
(E) This information is not found in the first paragraph. In the second paragraph, the passage states that genotype does not vary according to the environment.
Answer: B
A recent study of the eggs of tree frogs in Panama has provided insights into the concept of phenotypic plasticity. A biologist that studied the eggs observed that they would normally hatch a week after they were laid. However, by touching the eggs, the biologist could induce them to hatch immediately. The biologist likened this touch to the vibrations from an attacking snake. The implication was that the egg, even at an early stage, was flexible. It could either wait its usual full term to hatch, or hatch immediately in response to an environmental stressor. This example demonstrates phenotypic plasticity, which is the flexibility an organism has in expressing its genes. The phenotype is the expression of the genotype, or genetic makeup, and “plasticity” means the ability to change or adapt. Put another way, genotype is the inherited instructions that an organism receives from its genes, while phenotype is its physical appearance and actions.
Early theories of genetics relied on a direct cause model: everything about an organism, including its phenotype, was determined by its genotype. Phenotypic plasticity, on the other hand, allows for the inclusion of environmental factors. For example, some types of plants can allocate more resources to their roots when growing in low-nutrient soil, or change the size and thickness of their leaves in response to the amount of sunlight they receive. Although genes certainly play a major role, individual organisms are not different simply because they have different genes. Rather, organisms can express phenotypic differences in response to variations in ecosystem, diet, temperature and climate.
In the first paragraph, the passage suggests that which of the following is true?
A. The amount of time that tree frog eggs take to hatch is relatively fixed, with little variation
B. Even before they hatch, tree frogs eggs are able to respond to stimuli from the environment
C. An organism’s phenotype will always be expressed in the same way
D. A tree frog egg will only hatch when the egg is fully mature
E. An organism’s genotype can vary according to its environment
(A) The paragraph says the opposite of this answer choice: the amount of time is actually flexible.
(B) Correct. The passage states the egg can be induced to hatch immediately in response to an environmental stressor.
(C) The passage states the opposite of this answer choice.
(D) The passage states that there is variation in the amount of time it takes for an egg to hatch.
(E) This information is not found in the first paragraph. In the second paragraph, the passage states that genotype does not vary according to the environment.
Answer: B
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souvik101990
Hi Souvik,
Looks like a mix-up between the passage and the answer. The passage talks about tree frogs and the solution is given for some McDermott’s article. Please check.
Just checked, Same mix up in ur other post as well.
