Question

Hirsch and McCauley's selection in flies for the ability to be conditioned to extend their proboscis when water is applied to their feet demonstrated that:

a) Conditioning is a heritable trait
b) Genes play a role in learning behavior
c) The proboscis is an adaptive trait
d) Learning is solely influenced by environmental factors

Answer 1

Hirsch and McCauley's research on flies showed that the ability to learn behaviors through conditioning is a heritable trait, providing evidence that genetics influence adaptive behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hirsch and McCauley's selection in flies for the ability to be conditioned to extend their proboscis when water is applied to their feet demonstrated that genes play a role in learning behavior. Through selective breeding, they were able to show that the ability to learn certain behaviors can improve over generations, which suggests that conditioning is a heritable trait. This study highlights the fascinating dynamic between genetics and the environment in the development of adaptive behaviors.