Topic > Genetic determinism of human character - 638

Human character and behavior are not shaped only by the genes that comprise the individual's genotype. Human character, composed mainly of personality, sexuality, morality and intelligence, is the product of genetic determinism and external environmental factors. “Individual genes can have surprisingly strong influences on particular aspects of behavior.” (Frank., 2009) Genes construct the phenotype of human beings as well as the underlying genotype. Competition between cultural genes leads to various successes of genetic determinism. It can therefore be argued that learned traits, such as those adopted within a specific culture, can produce what may appear to be an individual's genetic genotype. Genes are not always advantageous in phenotype as they often act as constraints on an individual's behavior, so genes do not unconditionally determine behavior. (Elijah Wolfson, 2013) This is seen specifically in an individual's IQ. IQ is believed to be 50% heritable. Fifty percent of individual differences expressed through intelligence between different people could therefore be attributable to genetic differences. (Wolfson, 2013) Personality, sexuality, and morality are specifically a combination of nature and nurture. While sexual orientation can be attributed to genes, other factors play a larger role. The level of hormones a child is exposed to in the womb affects gender determinism. The genetic code is not an exact blueprint and therefore gender is predetermined. (TWCenter, 2012) We are sexual beings, even if we are not born homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual. Sexual expression can alter over time, towards different people, through different experiences. (Anon., 2006) Facets of morality...... half of paper ......available at: http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/07/21/genetic-influence-on-behavior /7237.html[Accessed February 23, 2014].Gil, E., 2010. Quora. [Online]Available at: http://www.quora.com/Are-personality-traits-genetic[Accessed February 23, 2014].Google, 2014. Google Definitions. [Online]Available at: https://www.google.co.za/search?q=phenotype+define&rlz=1C1CHYD_enZA573ZA573&oq=phenotype+define&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3762j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 [Accessed 24 February 2014].TWCenter, 2012. TWCenter. [Online]Available at: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?441653-Is-Gender-Geneically-pre-determined-Or-is-it-socially-constructed[Accessed 23 February 2014]. Wolfson, E., 2013. Motherboard. [Online]Available at: http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/intelligence-and-genetics-do-some-people-inherit-an-edge[Accessed February 23 2014].