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Analysis Of Codes Of Life: Behavior Genetics

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We are always told that we can be whatever we want to be, although it is not entirely true. From the day we are born we are highly influenced by other people, especially our family. Also, our physical appearance is not up to us as it is mainly influenced by our genes.

Although much of our appearance is mainly genetic, the majority of our human traits are less than half heritable. According to the documentary “Codes of Life: Behaviour Genetics” all the abilities and behaviours a person has, have a genetic component. Whether or not the genes get turned on and off depend on experiences a person has had. Behaviour geneticists are interested in the impact of genetic and environmental influences. Through twin and adoption studies, they have found …show more content…

(documentary). The way parents raise their child has a strong impact on their child’s personality. According to Travis Gibbs, genes don’t determine but predispose. That means that a certain configuration is already provided. Both the environment and nutrition can push the genetic envelope. As identical twins have the same genetic components, the reason for behavioural differences must be their subjective experiences. Studies of adopted children also confirm the importance of the (family) environment.

According to Oliver James, “the vast majority of the characteristics that have been tested by twin studies are less than half heritable; and, indeed, a great many crucial ones – like the propensity to violence or our romantic preferences or degree of masculinity-femininity – show little or no heritability. Whilst some personality traits are quite heritable, for instance extroversion and emotionality (both 40 per cent), many others, such as sociability (25 per cent), are not.”

As we can see, our identity is highly influenced by our environment and the experiences within it. Especially our early experiences have a big impact on us as our brain is growing faster at that

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