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3.12 identify data sources and perform a first-hand investigation to demonstrate the effect of the environment on phenotype

identify data sources and perform a first-hand investigation to demonstrate the effect of the environment on phenotype

Background

Studies on identical twins separated at birth are useful to determine how much the phenotype is determined by the environment. Identical twins have the same genotype, so any differences in phenotype could be determined by the environment.

Other studies that are useful are long-term studies on height of individuals. For example, Japanese people who grew up in America on average were taller than Japanese people who grew up in Japan. Better nutrition was responsible for the Japanese people to reach their genetic potential. This has been shown in an increase in the height of the average Japanese person over the last fifty years as nutrition has improved.