Behaviour and Genes

“To What Extent Is Behaviour Written In The Genes?”

To What Extent is Behaviour Written in the Genes

General Introduction

There is a huge controversy regarding the environmental influence and inherited genes and its effects on the ability, intelligence, development, and personality. This debate is known as a conflict of nature vs. nurture. In recent years, with the advent of even more sophisticated gene technology, the classic nature vs. nurture debate has been taken to new and more interesting heights. The debates over nurture vs. nature are known to date back over thousands of year. During the 20th century however, the distinction between inherited and learning behaviour appeared much clearly. There are many individuals who believe only genes effects the way of life of any animal where as the other believe that environment imposes a huge impact on the behaviour. It has been accepted generally that development of any particular specie is caused either by environmental or genetic factors, but instead it is a constant interaction between environment and genes. The main purpose of this essay is to explore the behavioural patterns within species that shows genetic variance so as to clear the confusion if the extent of behaviour in living creatures is due to genetic effect.

More Specific Detail on the Topic

Every living creature on earth is born with a set of genetic blueprint. The general temperament and physical appearance is controlled by these genes. The behaviour of any animal is influenced by the genes which the animal inherits and in the environment in which an animal lives. With important advancements in the genetic knowledge and the publication of the sequence of draft of the entire animal genome, the research focus has drifted towards the biological contribution understanding towards the behaviour (Duster, 1990, n.d.). The behaviour gets affected by the genes but not single genes. The behaviours are composite and they are expected to involve manifold of genes among a variety of factors. Genetics is just partly what influences animal behaviour. The behaviour is thought to be complex trait and it gets affected both by environment and genetic factors. However, the occurrence of few genetic factors may decrease or increase the effects of others, and the environmental and genetic aspects involve the interaction of individuals with each others.

There are a variety of scientist who has attempted to locate the specific groups and genes linked with behavioural traits and they tend to understand the multifaceted co relation between the environment and the genes, it is known as behavioural genetics (Robert, 2000, n.d.). In comparison to studies of genetic basis of disorders and disease researchers in the behavioural genetics determines the factors of an animal personality such as novelty-seeking, tendencies toward sex traversion, antisocial conduct, susceptibility to aggression, sexual orientation and intelligence. The behavioural genetics is a new study field. The purpose of the behavioural genetics is to determine the affects of environment and genes on the behaviour of an animal. It is a multifaceted study field as it sets a path towards ...