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If you are a fraternal twin and raised in the same home as your twin sibling, what are the chances that you will earn the same score on an intelligence test?

User Yuqizhang
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Final answer:

Fraternal twins raised in the same environment may have similar intelligence test scores due to shared environmental factors, but their genetic differences mean that identical scores are not guaranteed. Environmental influences play a substantial role in shaping intelligence alongside genetic factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is inquiring about the likelihood that fraternal twins raised in the same home will score identically on an intelligence test. Based on the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart and other research in behavioral genetics, we can understand that while there is a genetic component to intelligence, this does not guarantee that fraternal twins will have the same intelligence test scores. These twins, unlike identical twins, do not share the exact same genetic material, and so their scores may vary as widely as any other non-twin siblings raised together.

Additionally, various environmental factors such as the twins' experiences, education, and stress levels can influence their cognitive development and, consequently, their IQ scores. It is important to recognize that while there may be a genetic predisposition, the environment also plays a significant role in shaping an individual's intelligence. Therefore, the chances that fraternal twins will earn the same score on an intelligence test are no more likely than the chances of any siblings scoring the same, provided they have also been raised in the same environment.

User Dayna
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