Books reviews, current events, and other musings

Matt Ridley, author of the excellent Genome, explores the classic nature vs. nurture debate in his newest book Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience, & What Makes Us Human. His high-level conclusion, involving the interplay between genes and the environment, isn’t particularly profound, but he describes many angles that I hadn’t seen before.

Environmental factors can turn genes on and off, altering a person's genetic behavior. Some psychological problems are correlated with certain genetic patterns, but only emerge following a dysfunctional family background. The womb, as a prenatal environment, can influence the later life of the unborn child; for example, boys with older brothers are more likely to be gay. Identical twins who grow up in different families have very similar personalities, providing the strongest evidence of genetic influence on human behavior. As people grow older, they choose to spend time with similar personalities and to perform activities that coincide with their strengths, in essence seeking environments that magnify their genetic inclinations.

Ridley presents several biology experiments that provide insight into the generic and environmental mechanisms at play. He also reviews the beliefs of a dozen intellectuals, from Charles Darwin to Konrad Lorenz, who dominated the nature/nurture debate. Nature via Nurture has some interesting ideas, though it doesn’t rise to the level of Genome.