According to findings from a mate choice experiment discussed in the Week 1 Lecture "Different Strokes...", female rats show a decreased preference for ________________.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Female rats avoid males descended from ancestors exposed to DNA‑damaging chemical agents because mate choice favors signals of genetic and epigenetic integrity.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Sexual selection and mate choice: females prefer mates that signal higher genetic quality to maximize offspring fitness.  
- Transgenerational effects/epigenetics: ancestral exposure to mutagens can alter gene expression or cause heritable epigenetic changes that affect descendant phenotype (behavior, scent, health).  
- Olfactory and behavioral cues: rodents use scent and subtle behaviors to assess mate quality; changes in these cues can drive preference changes.

2) Step‑by‑step reasoning from the experiment to the conclusion
- Experimental design (typical mate‑choice paradigm): a female is presented with two or more males differing in a single manipulated attribute. Time spent investigating or mating attempts indicate preference.  
- In the lecture’s described experiment, the manipulated attribute was ancestral exposure: one male lineage had great‑grandmothers exposed to a DNA‑damaging chemical, the other did not.  
- Observed outcome: females spent less time with, investigated less, or showed fewer mating behaviors toward males from the exposed lineage, indicating decreased preference.

3) Intermediate logical steps (no numerical calculations)
- Ancestral exposure → heritable molecular/phenotypic changes in descendants (e.g., altered odor cues or reduced vigor).  
- Altered cues detected by females → perceived lower genetic/epigenetic quality → avoidance in mate choice.  
- Avoidance reduces the chance of passing on potentially compromised genetic/epigenetic material.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- The answer (males whose great‑grandmothers had been exposed to a chemical that causes DNA damage) directly matches the experimental manipulation and observed female behavior: a transgenerational effect caused decreased female preference.

5) Why the other options are incorrect
- a. Subdominant males: dominance status can influence choice, but this option was not the specific finding described.  
- b. Males with visible signs of illness: obvious illness typically reduces preference, but the lecture highlighted subtler, ancestral exposure effects instead.  
- c. Males who smelled of citral: citral is a scent compound; there was no finding that citral specifically reduced female preference in the lecture’s example.

Conclusion: The experimental findings indicate decreased female preference for males whose great‑grandmothers had been exposed to a DNA‑damaging chemical, confirming answer d.

According to findings from a mate choice experiment discussed in the Week 1 Lecture "Different Strokes...", female rats show a decreased preference for ________________.Single choice

Similar Questions

Rick presented an experiment in Lecture 3.3 ("Are You Experienced?") about the impacts of cocaine on sexual behaviour. What did the authors find?

You do an experiment on your pet fish, randomising which nights you turn on the aquarium light at night, and find that lights on at night results in the fish eating less. The relationship between the light being on and the amount the fish eats is:

Harry Harlow presented infant monkeys with two “surrogate mothers.” One was a bare wire cylinder with a feeding bottle, whereas the other was a wire cylinder covered with soft terry cloth that had no feeding bottle. The results of his experiments revealed that:

Please answer the question based on the accompanying graph: After 15 days of training, now both groups are given food pellets. On which day would you expect the rats in Group B to have a running speed about 80 cm/s

If a person wants to use shaping to train a new puppy to respond to a name, he would call the name and then:

According to the article on Animal Self Medication, what kinds of animals self-medicate?

When researchers wish to study the behaviour of birds in rain forests, they might decide to use which particular method of research?

Undergraduates at Wharton Business School learned that horses often obey human handlers who act more dominant.

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler