The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues debate in biology. On one side, some people argue that nature has a greater influence than nurture because your genes determine so much of who you are before you are born - whether you are male or female, the color of your eyes, or whether you will be taller or shorter. These things, they argue, are largely unable to be changed. On the other hand, some believe that nurture has a greater influence than nurture because it is our environment that affects our experiences, which then shape our choices and determine our future in the end. Although the reality is that both nature and nurture work together to shape human existence, I think nurture has a greater impact on human existence overall because a person’s genes do not ultimately condemn someone to a certain future.
People are able to work hard in order to achieve their dreams despite what their genes predispose them to. For example, in the movie Gattaca, even though Vincent Freeman is born without the help of genetic selection, he is still able to accomplish his dreams. As a child, Vincent always loses a swimming game to his little brother Anton who is born with the help of genetic selection, but this pushes him to work even harder than those who are genetically altered. In the end, his experiences have a greater influence on him to work harder than anyone else, and he is still able to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut in a world of genetically altered people. At one point in the movie, Vincent even wins Anton in the swimming game they played before and even saves Anton from drowning. Vincent’s example in Gattaca shows that even though someone’s genes can predispose people to certain outcomes, people’s experiences in their environments ultimately push them to go one way or another when it comes to making choices that determine their futures.
Also, in our technologically advanced society, people can be genetically predisposed to certain addictions or diseases, but nature no longer has to be a death sentence. People can do genetic testing and make choices to prevent succumbing to addiction or even receiving a cancer diagnosis. For example, in 2013 Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy after finding out that she had the BRCA1 gene that put her at a higher risk for breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, “About 1 in 20 people diagnosed with breast cancer every year carries an inherited gene fault like BRCA1” (Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK). This means that one in twenty women now have the option of doing early genetic testing to find out whether they carry this gene that puts them at higher risk of developing breast cancer. With this knowledge at their disposal, they can then take the necessary steps to prevent the disease, such as having an elective double mastectomy. We have enough technology in our society for people to know what their genetic risks are, and overcome them through environmental means. In years past, perhaps nature would have had the final say, but in our world today, nurture could have the last word.
If we have technology that will make it easy to look at our genome, this poses another question. Should a person’s genome be public knowledge? On one hand, some people will think that making this public information can simply provide more knowledge about people, similar to their resume. But on the other hand, if someone has certain genetic disorders, this can lead to discrimination. I think a person’s genome should not be public knowledge because seeing someone’s genome will put them at risk of job discrimination. Also, seeing someone’s genome would put them at risk of health discrimination. If someone has a gene that increases his or her probability of getting certain diseases in the future, then insurance companies can deny them medical insurance based on this risk even though there is no way of being absolutely certain that a person would get these diseases until they have them.
What is Language? Language is a tool we have been using to understand and develop our thinking. We have been: Learning about the thinking of others by reading Expressing our own thinking through writing Exchanging ideas with others by speaking and listening Thought and language …
A number of studies conducted in many countries over the years have come to similar broad conclusion which clearly indicates that genes play a significant role in determining criminal behavior. There are of course no specific genes associated with criminal tendencies nor any specific set …
Twins are commonly used to study the effects of nature versus nurture. Ones immediate surroundings define who they become later on in life. The environment plays a huge role in the development of humanity through cultivating personality, character, beliefs, and many different aspects in a …
I think the flaw lies behind assuming that any one particular behavior is solely responsible or due to genetics. Genetics do play huge role in affecting one directly such as their responses to an issue or situation that may occur. Aggressiveness, patience, empathy or sympathy. …
Each person is unique and a person of worth under his/her own right. This statement defines who a person is, one s endowed with the faculties to exist and be a contributing member of society. However, how a person develops certain characteristics and traits have …
The Human Genome Project, which has attracted its fair share of controversy, set out in the early 1990s to map all 25,000 genes of the human genome (“About”). The hope was that such discoveries would provide a roadmap to the specific genes which could “allow …
All things belong to Mother Nature: the trees, the flowers, insects, the great waters, animals, and even the human race. All follow the laws of nature that we are instinctively born with. However, somewhere along the line, something or someone defies those laws and goes …
Do we have control over our destiny or is it pre-determined for us? This age-old question, which has been pondered since the age of Socrates, continues to cause much debate today. Psychologist will favor one side or the other with much controversy on the issue. …
Nature Vs. Nurture For centuries psychologists have argued over which plays the larger role in child development, heredity or environment. One of the first theories was proposed in the seventeenth century by the British philosopher John Locke. Locke believed that a child was born with …
Whereas nurture is the environment around us that can influence our upbringing and it is the society around us that affect the way we think or do certain things. It refers to a person’s childhood and how they were brought up and what they learn. …
The debate between what shapes who a person will become has been around as long as scientists have been around to contemplate it. The biologists with their need to find a genetic link for everything use such genetic diseases as Down’s syndrome and Hemophilia to …
The Nature versus Nurture argument is one both psychologists and sociologists have looked at and studied extensively to the degree that it has become one of the great debates in both fields of research. On one side Nature, the argument that It Is the genes …
The psychological debate of nature vs. nurture is one that has been deliberated and refuted for many years. This debate is so controversial because although it is fact that genetic makeup does play a major role in developing a person, the nurture and environment in …
Nature and nurture are a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under two distinct heads the innumerable elements of which personality is composed. Nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his …
Briefly summarize the approaches to the nature and nurture controversy. Provide two examples of nature and two examples of nurture and explain their influence on your own development. Evaluate the impact of each and explain which you believe had more of an impact and why. …
Final Paper: Nature vs. Nurture My thoughts on Nature vs. Nurture are very different from the secular world because the secular world doesn’t understand how a relationship with Jesus Christ can completely change a person. I believe my wife is a perfect person for the …
Developmental psychologists tell us that development is caused by two very extensive intermingling factors: heredity or nature, and environment or nurture. Often determining the demarcation line between these two factors, which directly or indirectly influences our biological and psychological constitution, is not an easy task. …
As far as how an individual personality is biologically determined, no one really knows just in what manner it is accumulated. In an article conducted by John Hockett, he describes the differences as such; “Nature is a trait which does not change with age, while …
There is no denying that both nature and nurture both play a part in who a person is. When it comes to genes and environment one of the two has a greater influence on a person. One’s nurture or environment has the most influence on …
The nature versus nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual’s innate qualities (“nature,” i. e. nativism, or innatism) versus personal experiences (“nurture,” i. e. empiricism or behaviorism) in determining or causing individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. The phrase “Nature versus nurture” …
I was reading an article called “Nature Nurture In Psychology written by Saul Mcleod published by the website “psychologically. Org” In 2007 1 was deeply intrigued by the argument. Are the things we do in life coming from our surroundings or are we the way …
The relative role of nature versus nurture in the shaping of living systems is a central issue in many areas of biology. There are two schools of thought. One side would argue that all idiotypic specificities are encoded in the germline genes of the gonads, …
The Forever Debate Christine Nerren South University Online Outline: I. Nature: Definition: The traits we are born with through heredity from both of our parents. a. Appearance -eye color -hair color -skin tone -freckles or no freckles b. How we laugh c. Some personality traits …
Annie Murphy Paul’s article `Kid stuff: Do parents really matter?` outlines the findings of a highly controversial study on the role of nature and nurture in children’s education. The article states that a group of researchers from George Washington University and the Institute of Psychiatry …
However , this kind of thinking was later on rejected through the knowledge of the role of “nurture ‘ which is a shaping a persons behaviour or attitudes and perspectives through cultural context . This idea was first instituted by John Watson in his …
The three levels in biopsychosocial theory are biological, psychological (e.g., cognitive and emotional influences), and social-cultural. The influences in the three levels generally interact with each other in accounting for the variability between individuals. However, if a person wanted to be cloned, the person and …
Nature vs. Nurture essayPosted by admin as Essays Example essay on Nature vs Nurture: The natural characteristics of a person can either be quite similar or quite different to the unnatural characteristics of a person. The natural characteristics of a person are the traits that …
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