Discover Article: DNA is not your destiny

Here's a little change of pace. I was reading the November 2006 issue of Discover magazine and I came across an article describing the idea that we are not simply hard-wired for many of our traits--even the genetic ones.

(If I get too technical, which I know I will, and you want me to explain what I'm talking about to you: Try reading the article first, if that doesn't help, email me, and I'll see what I can do.)

While I don't want to get into a big philosophical argument, personally I do not believe in genetic determinism for the most part. This is basically the idea that we are a product of our genes.

The article describes some mechanisms through which we can change the way our genes are expressed: This can occur through the food we eat or even how one is raised. While there is much debate surrounding this issue still, I still like the idea that my notions are getting confirmed by science.

As well, with a little nod to Lamarck, the changes that occur to the expression of ones geneome may also be passed to future generations. This is to say that changes in habits that we make in our lives, can somehow be reflected in our offspring. This is quite a boot to the face of current neo-evolutionists. The idea of "inhereted acquired traits" is pretty weird.

Although I could talk about this for a long time, the reason I'm making this post is to share the article with you.

DNA is not your destiny: Page one, two, three, four, five, six and seven.

Feel free to discuss this article at the bottom, I have a lot of stuff to mention that I haven't gotten to. It's midnight, and I'm a little tired. So go and read this article; you may end up learning something incredible!

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