Scientists performed an experiment to determine whether there is a connection between learning ability and food. They took two groups of 20 mice each, all from the same purebred strain. The mice were deprived of food for 3 days and then given a standard learning session in running through a maze. They were trained by giving them a mild electric shock whenever they took a wrong turn. Immediately after each learning session, one group of mice was fed, but the other was not, A week later, all of the mice were tested to see whether they could still run the maze correctly. The group that had been fed had retained this ability, but the other group had not. The probable reason that the scientists used only mice from the same pure-bred strain is so that?

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To control for genetic factors?

The probable reason that scientists used mice from the same purebred strain is to minimize genetic variability. By using mice from the same purebred strain, the scientists ensure that any differences in learning ability observed between the two groups can be attributed to the variable being studied (food deprivation), rather than genetic differences between the mice. This helps to control for genetic factors that could potentially confound the results of the experiment. In other words, by using mice from the same purebred strain, the scientists can be more confident in attributing any differences in learning ability to the manipulation of food deprivation instead of genetic variations.