Summary Sharon Moalem, the author of Inheritance, is a geneticist who through the penning of this novel, effectively educated readers in the field of genetics and revealed connections between inheritance and epigenetics. Throughout the novel, He used several distinct phenomena to illustrate the importance of what people inherit and how life experience can change genes. He shows readers the importance of what they inherit by showing how what you inherit can help or hurt you. The first example of this that he uses is that our diet should be shaped by what our ancestors ate because we essentially inherit what they ate. He illustrates this phenomenon by showing how Asians are more likely to be lactose intolerant because their ancestors did not raise livestock. The next example is …show more content…
Moalem even goes on to say that “if our ancestors went through it and survived, we’ve inherited it” (2015, p. xi). This further disproves the Mendelian theory because Moalem says that genes are in a constant stage of change and that those changes are permanent and transmissible to other generations. This can be a controversial topic because there is no consensus to whether this phenomenon actually occurs. Another major conflict that Moalem addresses in Inheritance is the issue of people who essentially want to “hack your genome”. What he means by this is people, companies, and governments that want to use your genes to discriminate against you. For example, Moalem reveals, “insurance companies have free reign to use that genetic information against us when they determine the premiums they will charge us for disability and life insurance” (2015, p. 165). This essentially means that they
Ernest J. Gaines stated, “That 's man 's way. To prove something. Day in, day out he must prove he is a man...” Gaines states this quote from his novel The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, which he publishes in 1971 just a few years after the ending of The Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement, also known as “The African American Civil Rights Movement”, was a battle started between the society and the African-American race for racial equality, acceptance, and respect as it was given to the Whites. However, the ongoing battle for blacks to obtain these expectations from society lasted for years, and would often force some blacks to separate themselves from the entire race and propose their worthiness of respect and manhood to society by proving and earning it as an individual instead of waiting for it to be handed to the entire race.
Teenage rebellion is typically portrayed in stories, films, and other genres as a testosterone-based phenomenon. There is an overplayed need for one to acknowledge a boy’s rebellion against his father, his life direction, the “system,” in an effort to become a man, or rather an adult. However, rarely is the female addressed in such a scenario. What happens when little girls grow up? Do they rebel? Do they, in a sudden overpowering rush of estrogen, deny what has been taught to them from birth and shed their former youthful façades? Do they turn on their mothers? In Sharon Olds’ poem, “The Possessive,” the reader is finally introduced to the female version of the popular coming-of-age theme as a simple haircut becomes a symbol for the growing breach between mother and daughter through the use of striking images and specific word choice.
The ethics behind genetic engineering have been discussed and argued for years now. Some arguing points often include competitive advantages, playing God, and the polarization of society, but Sandel takes a different approach in explaining society’s “unease” with the morality of genetic engineering. Broadcasted through several examples throughout the book, Sandel explains that genetic engineering is immoral because it takes away what makes us human and makes us something else. He states that by taking control of our genetic makeup, or the makeup of our progeny, we lose our human dignity and humility. Our hunger for control will lead to the loss of appreciation for natural gifts, whether they are certain talents, inherited from the genetic lottery, or the gift of life itself.
...hich inherited traits, such as those for genetic disease, can be tracked over generations. Throughout out the course of human development, scientists will continue to find new new ways to help the human race through the discovery of the human gene inside of each of us, its uses, as well as complications, that can help the survival of our species.
Every individual has a biological influence on their development; two individuals combine their genetic information to create a new organism, carrying biological predispositions that will shape their expressed behaviors and characteristics. However, Susan Griffin, author of the essay “Our Secret,” argues that while genetic influences are significant, they are not the sole contributors to an individual’s development. Throughout her essay, Griffin reveals to her readers that the presence of external, uncontrollable factors from an individual’s environment can be equally influential as they diverge the individual off of the predetermined path of life created by biological factors.
Steen, R. Grant. DNA and Destiny: Nurture and Nature in Human Behavior. New York: Plenum Press, 1996.
This is the natural fallacy genetic engineering creates in the new world seen in Gattaca. We know this because in the film the main character, Vincent, who uses another man named Jerome Morrow’s D.N.A and identity to rise up the ranks within Gattaca’s staff. He does this because genetic engineering pre-determines every aspect of one’s life that is scientifically possible. This would include diseases, life expectancy, cause of death, jobs/careers you can have and even who you should marry all from a sample of blood given when first born. Vincent’s D.N.A to others deemed him chronically ill, making him invalid, meaning that there would be very little opportunities for him in life; though he felt he can do things just as well as anyone. It is in Gattaca that we can look at genetic engineering as determining one’s instrumental worth to
“The term “nature versus nurture” is used to refer to a long-running scientific debate. The source of debate is the question of which has a greater influence on development: someone's innate characteristics provided by genetics, or someone's environment. In fact, the nature versus nurture debate has been largely termed obsolete by many researchers, because both innate characteristics and environment play a huge role in development, and they often intersect”. (Smith, 2010 p. 1)
The first argument given for the obligation of genetic enhancement is the postulate of the “Neglectful Parents”. Savulescu considers the case of two types of parents, the neglectful parents and the lazy parents. Neglectful parents have a child that has a condition wherein a simple, cheap dietary supplement must be given so that the child maintains an advanced intellect.... ... middle of paper ... ... World Health Organization.
Genetic testing has become very popular as technology has improved, and has opened many doors in the scientific community. Genetic testing first started in 1866 by a scientist known as, Gregor Mendel, when he published his work on pea plants. The rest was history after his eyes opening experiments on pea plants. However, like any other scientific discovery, it bought conflicts which caused major controversies and a large population disagreed with the concept of playing with the genetic codes of human beings. Playing God was the main argument that people argument that people had against genetics. genetic testing became one of the major conflicts conflicts to talk about, due to the fact that parents could now have the option of deciding if they
In 1874, Francis Galton said, “Nature is all that a man brings with him into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth”. The human body contains millions upon millions of cells and each of these cells contains hereditary information and DNA. However, there is no proof that the information carried in these genes predetermines the way in which we behave. I believe it is our life experiences and what we see and are told that shape the way in which we behave. Therefore, it appears to me that nurturing plays a far more governing and dominant role in a human being’s development rather than nature.
Genetics and Epigenetics. Based on your readings, please explain how you think: 1.1: Genetics and Epigenetics affect us, as persons This week’s readings explain that the study of human genetics helps us to better understand the biological basis that contributes to certain behaviours in us. Pg 76 I think that genetics provides some credible explanations as to how our brain hormone and cells with genetic codes are expressed in our behaviour every minute or hour of the day in our emotions and thoughts and reactions to what we do or happens around us. For example, the range of reaction concepts, make people better understand that the environment interacts with our genes to determine to what extent we are able to maximize on our in-born potential
achieving and future were another thing that tested out to be largely due to heredity and
Heredity Versus Environment - The Nature-nurture Controversy, Exploring Heredity And Environment: Research Methods, Beyond Heritability
In conclusion, genetics play an important role in the development of a child in light of the transfer of genes from parents to offspring. Even though a child inherits several genes from the two parents, his/her ability to express these factors is dependent on gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Therefore, a child’s growth and development is not only influenced by hereditary factors but also determined by environmental influences.