Genetics has a much greater effect on animals than their environment. What is the correctness of this statement?

The statement that genetics has a much greater effect on animals than their environment is considered false because it oversimplifies the complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors. In reality, both genetics and environment play vital and intertwined roles in shaping an organism's phenotype—the observable traits that arise from the expression of genes influenced by environmental conditions.

Genetics provides the blueprint for traits such as physical appearance, behavior, and physiological responses, but the environment can significantly influence how these genetic traits are expressed. For instance, environmental factors such as nutrition, habitat, climate, and social interactions can modify the expression of genes. A clear example of this interaction is found in the way certain animals may exhibit different behaviors or physical characteristics depending on their environment, even if they share similar genetic backgrounds.

This relationship emphasizes that it is not solely genetics that determines an organism's traits but rather a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental influences. In essence, saying that genetics has "much greater" effects overlooks the substantial impact that environmental factors can have on development, adaptability, and survival of animals in various ecosystems.