nature vs nurture
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We receive certain characteristics from our parents, for instance, what color eyes we have or how big our noses are. But what other things do we inherit from our parents? Our sense of humor, our ability to dance well, or even perhaps what foods we prefer? While it is known that we receive our physical traits from our parents' genes, it is still a controversy as to whether more abstract qualities such as intelligence, behavior and personality are inherent or learned. As of yet we are unable to know for sure how much of who we are is determined by our experiences and environment and how much by our DNA.
Nature versus nurture is the debate of how much an impact heredity and environment play in human development as discussed by Matt Ridley in his essay, "Genome". The "nature" theorists believe that a genetic disposition or instinct causes people to behave a certain way. On the other hand, those that believe in the "nurture" theory feel that the certain ways in which people think and act stem from what they are taught and subjected to in their environment. The recent break throughs in understanding the human genome have added credibility to both sides of this argument.
It is disputed that certain things such as mental illnesses are entirely hereditary...