Culture may be encoded in DNA

POSTED BY: kpo
UPDATED: Saturday, September 5, 2026 00:24
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KPO

Thursday, July 1, 2010 3:55 PM

An interesting study on the nature/nurture debate. Could cultural attitudes (art, morality, sensibilities etc.), despite being taught, still be encoded in our DNA?

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/05/songbirdculture/

"Mitra’s team wanted to find out what would happen if an isolated bird raised his own colony. As expected, birds raised in soundproof boxes grew up to sing cacophonous songs.

But then scientists let the isolated birds give voice lessons to a new round of hatchlings. They found that the young males imitated the songs — but they tweaked them slightly, bringing the structure closer to that of songs sung in the wild. When these birds grew up and became tutors, their pupils’ song continue to conform, with tweaks.

After three to four generations, the teachers were producing strapping young finches that belted out normal-sounding songs."

Heads should roll

WULFENSTAR

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:09 PM

In before the snark.

I think its possible. The idea that your sense of right and wrong COULD be influenced by genetics.

HOWEVER.

Being a free-thinking American, who knows the right of self-determination... I don't think thats ALL there is to it.

You still have a choice. You always have a choice.

It may not seem like it, and you may not have as many psychological walls built in, but you can still choose.

We are not robots, we are not sheep. We can CHOOSE to be those. But we can chhoose to be something different and better.

My 3 cents (added a penny for inflation)

SIGNYM

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:11 PM

People think because we have this big dome of gray matter that we're somehow different from birds, lizards, and rats.

Well, we CAN BE, but usually we're not.

Underneath that big rind of exquisitely folded gray matter are several more layers of fully functional brain.... our monkey-brain, our lizard-brain, and even our worm-brain. These layers keep working, even as our fancy new brain tells us stories about why we do what we do. But often decisions are made unconsciously... the brain taking in data about the state of self (heat, muscle stretch, hunger, thirst, nearby companions, possibility of danger or reward) and make decisions for us... OOOPS! Time to scratch my nose, hit the john and grab a bite to eat, but don't get in my way or I'll get grumpy!....

We CAN use the new brain to be more fully conscious, but it takes training and insight. Most people still "react" rather than "think", and are still subject to their lizard-brains.

Or, as my sis says: Man is a rationalizing animal, not a rational one.

Quote:
You still have a choice. You always have a choice.

But only if you understand where your choices came from. Otherwise your choices control you, not the other way around.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:38 PM

Graaah...

That's not genetic culture, that's learning. They violated non-intervention in their study. Poor science.

KPO

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:39 PM

Let me make clear that I haven't posted this as a response to Wulf's thread about the horrible black woman and 'black culture'... (I don't believe that woman's actions were encoded in her DNA.).

Heads should roll

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:48 PM

There's a few signs that environmental stresses can affect genetic expression, but this works by changing what genes and therefore chemicals are expressed, not the genetic code itself.

They can't even demonstrate this is what's at work here. I find it unconvincing and really, honestly poor science if they're trying to claim these changes over generations are "genetic."

WULFENSTAR

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:50 PM

(I don't believe that woman's actions were encoded in her DNA.).

Neither do I. Shocker.

But does a culture of nothing produce nothing?

Yes.

Does a culture of violence, hate, and victimization produce people who are violent, hatefilled and with a chip on their shoulder?

Yes.

Does a culture of materialism produce those that care nothing but for the "paper"?

Yes.

Does a culture that promotes misogyny, while also promoting feminism produce illigitimate families and a downward spiral that serves only to circle in on itself?

Yes.

This goes for ANY culture that has imploded. Any group that has decided to become dependant on others.

P.S. Any idea where I can buy a soapbox, a microphone, and a billy club? :) lol

KANEMAN

Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:56 PM

That is why Black peoples culture is in shambles all across the world....My point

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 1, 2010 5:04 PM

Wulf: now we're on to beating people, re: the billy club statement?

Kaneman: That probably has absolutely nothing to do with European conquerors and eugenicists that consider black people to be either undesireable - meaning in the way of the resources we want - or an exploitable labour force. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

But, admittedly there is some interracial dispute between east African genetic pool and the west African genetic pool, and various groups and subgroups have been pitted against each other for politics and profit. Still not really sure you can call that cultural, it's more like the age old resource disputes that happen everywhere.

WULFENSTAR

Thursday, July 1, 2010 5:11 PM

"That is why Black peoples culture is in shambles all across the world....My point"

Sweetie, you are not helping. The "trick" to bringing people to the truth is NOT to beat them over the head with it. You have to present them with the facts, show them ideas, and then let THEM find their way.

For example: "Gun laws are racist, and are only about keeping blacks from getting guns.."

This may be true. But you have to back that up. Show them the history of gun laws, dating back to after the civil war, and how its was the Northerners who did not want black folks having guns, so THEY created "gun control" and Jim Crow" laws.

A person is generally smart. You can show them the truth, and present evidence. They will then figure things out on their own.

But by beating them over the head, you cause a "shut-down" effect. They will no longer listen, no longer seek answers. They retreat to that which they have known all their life.

In effect, by hammering the truth into someone, you create the opposite. They become more stubborn, more stupid. They refuse to reach beyond what has been drilled into them.

Make a statement, present the evidence. Allow them to see the truth in what you say.

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