What does the 'Jumping Genes' claim state about environment and genetics in performance differences?

• A. Environment is most important
• B. Genes interact with environment
• C. Environment completely determines outcomes
• D. Genes operate independently of the physical and social environment.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how genetics and environment relate to differences in performance. The Jumping Genes claim argues that genes work on their own, independent of the physical and social environment, so environmental factors don’t shape how genetic differences translate into performance. Put simply, performance gaps would be explained solely by genetic makeup, with the environment not modifying that effect. In practice, many scientists recognize gene–environment interactions and the ways training, nutrition, culture, and other factors can influence how genes are expressed and how athletes perform. The other statements describe environments or interactions that the Jumping Genes view would deny: environment being the most important, genes interacting with the environment, or the environment completely determining outcomes. So the best match is the idea that genes operate independently of the environment.