Genetic determinism

Genetic determinism is the belief that genes determine physical and behavioral phenotypes. The term may be applied to the mapping of a single gene to a single phenotype or to the belief that most or all phenotypes are determined mostly or exclusively by genes. While it is well-established that most phenotypic variability is strongly influenced by genes, non-genetic mechanisms of inheritance are also known to exist.^[1]

General information[edit | edit source]

Evidence for the genetic influence on phenotypes comes from hereditary diseases, for instance, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, which are caused by mutations in single genes, and Down syndrome and Klinefelter's syndrome by the abnormal duplication of a chromosome. Genetic determinism of behavioral traits is related to the field of neuropsychology.

Definitions of genetic determinism vary. It is usually thought of as the belief that all physical and behavioural phenotypes are determined mostly or exclusively by the genes. This belief is sometimes attributed to biologists by the media or some in the social sciences, or attributed to proponents of evolutionary psychology, though in this sense many biologists would consider it a straw man.^[2] Although there is considerable evidence that some behavioral traits in animals and humans are influenced by genetics to some extent, there is, however, no empirical support for the hypothesis that genes act unaffected by environmental factors, and virtually no modern-day geneticists would take a strong determinist stance in this regard.

Some proponents of belief in free will charge that genetic determinism removes culpability. With diseases such as Down Syndrome and Huntingtons there is a clear "one chromosome aberration one disease" or "one gene one disease" diagnosis. Behavioral traits are more complex.

Political implications of genetic determinism[edit | edit source]

As a result of believing genetic determinism, many genetic determinists support social policies that are very controversial^{[citation needed]}. Such policies deal mainly with the death and reproduction of criminals, psychopaths, and generally aggressive people.

In Fiction[edit | edit source]

Children of the revolution A Comedy about Stalin's son's inescapable path into rebellion and eventually a revolution of any sort.
In the television series Andromeda, the nietzschean species was genetically programmed to be ambitious, treacherous, and brutal.

References[edit | edit source]

↑ There is a wide class of phenomena, collectively termed as epigenetic inheritance, where changes in phenotype are not caused by changes in the genotype.
↑ Dawkins, R., 2003. "The Myth of Genetic Determinism" in A Devil's Chaplain. London, Phoenix ISBN 0-7538-1750-0.

External links[edit | edit source]

Critics[edit | edit source]

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[1] There is a wide class of phenomena, collectively termed as epigenetic inheritance, where changes in phenotype are not caused by changes in the genotype.

[2] Dawkins, R., 2003. "The Myth of Genetic Determinism" in A Devil's Chaplain. London, Phoenix ISBN 0-7538-1750-0.

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