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Quotes

Nature versus nurture

Quotepic Nicholase Christakis on nature v nurture set against geometric blue light tunnel

Nicholase Christakis

It used to be thought that our genes were historically immutable and that it was not possible to imagine a conversation between culture and genetics.

A thought:

I don't think this question will ever be solved, certainly not in my lifetime. It's reassuring to see that we at least consider both these days, and don't shun people at the first sign of trouble or illness. I don't personally believe that addiction is genetic. But it's so hard to separate the two things. We learn how to be human beings from our parents, and we mimic and observe from infancy that become incorporated. So much is changeable and fluid, as well. I like those surprises in adaptation and the capacity for change and learning we find in biology and nature.

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