Introduction: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
One of the most philosophical and controversial topic which has emerged following progress in biotechnology and discovery of genes and Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior? It rather creates a plethora of other questions whether upbringing, education, training and upkeep has any role to play if genes are the sole responsible determiners of behavior and attitude. There are several perspectives in this connection. The first one is classical or Mendelian perspective, the second one is behavioral genetics and the third one is whether any prediction could be made based on the information from genes. As far as classical philosophy and science is concerned, it has all the impacts of Mendelian genetics which is almost silent about the determination of human behavior and role the genes play in it. However, the new behavioral genetics talk much about it, as OJ. J. Wine writes in his article “Cognitive Neuroscience: Genes and Behavior” published in 2000. He is of the view that though Darwin has given hint to in his popular, Origin of Species, but this question still begs several ethical and legal explanations associate with human behavior. However, despite this, there is evidence that genes do play some role (Wine). Therefore, classical genetics determine a fewer role, eugenics take it very important while behavior genetics and ethology has given it critical importance in determining behavior and bringing reformation in laws and social traditions.
Classical Genetics: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
Whereas classical genetics is concerned, Gregor Mendel is the chief exponent who made several experiments on the cross-pollination and cross breeding to check whether any change occurs in the next generation to come out with the best generation or best specie. According to Illona Miko, Gregor Mendel only explained the principals of inheritance through his experiments and did not dilate upon the transfer of any behavioral traits in the next generation. He is of the opinion that by presenting model system to explore the impacts of cross fertilization and cross pollination, Gregor Mental has been successful in determining the inherited character traits of some peas and other living species. He has not only left a good legacy of the formation of hypothesis but also of determining dominant and recessive genes in one specie that is peas (Illona). However, he has talked little about human behavior and whether genes play any role in determining the behavior on the basis of which the prediction could be made that unruly parents will breed unruly children or that intelligent parents will have intelligent children. Far from answering these questions, he has only left some conclusions that could be made such as the principal of segregation and inheritance. It is quite interesting that Mendel has not talked about this side of the science or whether genetics has anything to do with this type of predictions so that it could be determined how a person is going to react in certain circumstances. Therefore, there is no ethical issue involved. However, the case of eugenics is somewhat different in which many things related human behavior.
Eugenics: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
Eugenics relate to genes and their role in the making of a person. Laura Hix has explained eugenics in detail in her article, “Modern Eugenics: Building A Better Person?”, in which she states that it means to give birth or create good offspring as it is a Greek word. Attributing Sir Francis Galton as the first user of the term, she argues that some scientists like Sir Francis Galton believes that by using eugenics human behavior could be improved in the next generation and it could be determined whether there will be behaviorally good or bad human beings. Even recent advances in modern eugenics have shed some light on the issue. Although modern genetics, she says, has proved that by removing certain genes, scientists have met success in treating some diseases, the success in behavior traits is not certain although this has created several other ethical dilemmas such as after the diagnosis of the coming child as suffering from some syndrome “parents make difficult decisions, if their fetus” is to be removed or not (Hix). Although it also is a common knowledge that genetic engineering has reached its pinnacle, it has not been determined whether this would create ethically better human beings despite the success it has met in creating healthy and better human beings physically. For example, Hix has highlighted the issue of non-therapeutic gene theraphy for creating professional athletes saying that it is not decided wither it will be “medically sanctioned and regulated” which is a very big question for human beings (Hix). In other words, it could be possible to create better human beings whose behavior could be determined prior to their birth, but it is not decided whether it would be ethically correct or not, for scientists would have to break social bonds to create such human being through genetic engineering. However, as the genetics has progressed, so has psychology and ethology.
Psychology/Ethology: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
Both of these branches of knowledge have taken genetics to the next level of behavioral genetics where certain studies have predicted that it is indeed possible to determine human behavior using the study of genes. In fact, some of the methods have already been used in the formulation of legal frameworks. In this connection, Katherine Kim and David Streid of Columbia University have done an interesting study in which they have shown that some mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have their links in hereditary sciences such as genetics. They are of the opinion that certain generations have certain genes which are responsible to transfer these phobias and human traits from one generation to another generation. It could be stated that if these genes are removed, one generation could be made not to suffer from them. In other words, they are of the opinion that some studies have made progress in this connection that “there may be a genetic basis for irrational phobias” but at the same time some other studies have shown that there are less chances of inheriting of some other manias (Kim & Streid). It means that there are no chances as some manias and phobias are byproducts of the circumstances. For example, hydrophobia will not occur if the person does not come into contact with water. Therefore, this type of questioning puts a big question regarding the perfect predictability of the determination of human behavior through genetics, for it means that there are some other outer influences which are more powerful or that both genetics and environmental have equal share. In other words, the use of psychology and ethology could determine the role of genetics in learning and grown. However, further detail about human behavior is still under question.
Changing Human Behavior: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
If behavior genetics is taken as the mode of changing human behavior if it succeeds at all, it will pose a very difficult ethical dilemma for human beings. Quoting Mark Rothstein in his paper, “Ethics and Genetics of Human Behavior” Calum Mackellar says that it is very difficult to decide about alcoholics when it is found that it is in their genes, for Rothstein says, “it may contribute to individuals feeling a sense of resignation and a reluctance to enter treatment” (qtd. Mackellar). This poses a very serious question that arises from the study of behavioral genetics and the ethical question attached with it. However, Michael Breed has contended this proposition arguing that though genes do determine some behavioral traits but they do not make up the whole psychological and mental makeup of a person. They do play an important role, for it happens that bad parenting, aggressive behavior and drug addiction travel in certain generations, it is not necessary that it always happens with each and every person. He is of the view that, in fact, this is more the role of biology than psychology. Some of the “biologists have been underestimating the role of though and reasoning in human behavior”, a point which is only an arena of psychology and not genetics which is a pure science. However, before reaching any specific conclusion, he mentions Charles Darwin saying that evolution “has acted so that genes and environment act to complement each other in yielding behavior solutions” and in this lies the survival of human beings (Breed). In other words, it is not yet determined whether a better human being could be developed through genetics by determining his actions though some success has been made.
Conclusion: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
In conclusion, it could be stated that though science has made much progress, it has yet not been successful in reaching the inner recesses of human mind to find out how a person might reaction in a certain environment or facing a challenge. It is still a mystery. Even studying it further poses several ethical questions about the status of the person as well as the study itself to declare in black and white how an inherited addiction could ruin the future of a person in the society. Therefore, there is no sure answer whether genes are successful in determining likely human behavior but it is certain that some predictions could be made to frame laws and change social customs and treat disorders. However, it is quite frightening to know that if genes are found to be responsible for human behavior and that human behavior and physical complexion is changed entirely with the addition and removal of some genes, it means the world could be become a better or worse place merely by the wishes and whims of the scientists. Although much has been said about this controversial topic, several of its aspects are still seen as ethically challenging.
Works Cited: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
- Breed, Michael D. & Leticia Sanchez.” Both Environment and Genetic Makeup Influence Behavior.” Nature Education Knowledge3.10 (2010): Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
- Hix, Laura. “Modern Eugenics: Building a Better Person.” HELIX. 23 Jul. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
- Kim, Katherine & David Streid. “The Genetics of Human Behavior.” CUSJ 9 (2015). Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
- MacKellar, Calum. “Ethics and Genetics of Human Behavior.” The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, 20 Apr. 2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
- Miko, Illona. “Gregor Mendel and The Principal of Inheritance.” Nature Education. 1.1 (2008): 134. Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
- Wine, OJ. J. “”Cognitive Neuroscience: Genes and Behavior.”Standford. 28 Mar. 2000. Web. 10 Nov. 2022.
Relevant Questions: Does Genetics Determine Human Behavior?
- To what extent does genetics influence human behavior?
- Are certain behaviors solely determined by genetics, or is there a significant environmental factor?
- Can specific genetic markers be linked to particular behavioral traits in humans?
