[Campbell Biology P.1193] What is a defining characteristic of imprinting, as described in th... | Practice Question

What is a defining characteristic of imprinting, as described in the text?

  • A: It is primarily influenced by genetic predisposition rather than environmental factors.
  • B: It can occur at any stage of an animal's life.
  • C: It involves the establishment of a long-lasting behavioral response to an object encountered during a specific sensitive period.
  • D: It is a learned behavior that requires constant reinforcement over time.

Explanation

The text explicitly defines imprinting as 'the establishment of a long-lasting behavioral response to a particular individual or object. Imprinting can take place only during a specific time period in development, called the sensitive period.'