Studying close relatives allows behavioral geneticists to determine ________.

A. How behaviors have changed over time

B. The contribution of genes or environment to the behavior in the individuals studied

C. Whether genes or environment cause a behavior or trait

D. The relative contributions of genes and environment in a population

Answer: D. The relative contributions of genes and environment in a population

The correct answer is the relative contributions of genes and environment in a population. It is simpler for behavioral geneticists to distinguish between the effects of environment and genes in a population when they study close relatives. Individual distinctions arise from different genetic variables, which in turn contribute to the growth of the human population. The area’s population has a significant impact on the environment’s ability to provide all the resources necessary for species to thrive there within reasonable bounds. When the population exceeds the cap, environmental issues arise because the resources produced are scarce. When the population exceeds the capacity of the resources produced, problems such as competition in the use of natural resources, resource scarcity, and population growth may result.