Aptitude gene

[Gnisy]

Is your approach to handling a certain situation caused by heredity ( or particular gene ) or is it family upbringing?

[Scarlett]

You won't like this, being a science question, but I think it is astrology.

I am a cautious Capricorn- drives me MAD my inability to just DO something without pondering for years. My friend is an Aries- exceptionally driven, like me, but she just makes snap decisions without thinking about it.

Personalities are totally individual, regardless of genes or upbringing. Astrology has been the only thing that answered my questions on why we are the way we are.

[Gnisy]

All the same, I still apreciate the answer Scarlett.

[jimmer]

Gnisy



I think heredity and upbringing are synonyms in this case. We learn from our parents (mannerisms, approach, etc) and this learning is an inherited trait, but we also inherit behaviour genetically. To put it another way: We inherit much of our behavioural information but this information is not completely hardwired in that it can be modified through experience. This, of course, can have positive or negative connotations.



jim

[stevie21]

I think your question is far too vague to be answerable in any reliable way. What situation exactly?

You may find scientific evidence for heredity but I'm not entirely convinced that you'll find much for astrology.

Personalities are (in my opinion) largely down to heredity and a kid's peer environment : the other kids that they're around exert MUCH more influence than the parents do. Sad but true.

[Gnisy]

To clarify my question ( perhaps it is too simple ), is there a certain gene that can be passed down from parents to their children which will determine how the children will approach a problem, handle a problem or figure up solutions to a particular problem? the same way as the way the colour of the eyes are determined by a gene...

[stevie21]

There are huge numbers of genes that, cumulatively, can influence these things but the overall genetic influence even then might be outweighed by the environment.
The influence of just one gene then (imagine that there's one gene that dictate eye colour but hundreds that work together to influence intelligence, others still that influence innate aggression etc.) is going to be minimal and impossible to measure in isolation.

Just to muddy the waters further, in a lot of cases genes are expressed in response to environmental cues. If a decision is made under pressure then this stressful environment will mean that adrenaline is released (this hormone production is regulated by genes) amongst other physiological reactions which, in turn, influence the decision itself (you may make a snap decision due to feeling under pressure, detecting your heart racing and being nervous etc.)

This is all like asking about the influence of just one grain of salt in a big pot of soup :-)
Complex behaviours (e.g. problem solving) are mediated by more genes than we can reliably track and measure individually or in combination. This situation of yours ALSO includes a whole host of other environmental/non-genetic factors so it really is an impossible question.

I don't think this is the answer you were hoping for!!