Chapter 9, Problem 18RQ

A scientific study demonstrated that rat mothering behavior impacts the stress response in their pups. Rats that were born and grew up with attentive mothers showed low activation of stress-response genes later in life, while rats with inattentive mothers had high activation of stress-response genes in the same situation. An additional study that swapped the pups at birth (i.e., rats born to inattentive mothers grew up with attentive mothers and vice versa) showed the same positive effect of attentive mothering. How do genetics and/or epigenetics explain the results of this study?

________ Although the incidence of neural tube defects in the United States declined post-folic acid fortification, some women are still at risk. Which of the following options represents a risk group for inadequate folate status and a neural tube defect affected pregnancy? a. Non-Hispanic Black women b. Non-Hispanic White women c. Asian Americans d. Hispanic Americans