Re: Article: The Science of Success

[Guest guest]

helen_foisy wrote:

> The Science of Success By Dobbs Genetics December 2009 ATLANTIC

> MAGAZINE

>

> Most of us have genes that make us as hardy as dandelions: able to

> take root and survive almost anywhere. A few of us, however, are more

> like the orchid: fragile and fickle, but capable of blooming

> spectacularly if given greenhouse care. So holds a provocative new

> theory of genetics, which asserts that the very genes that give us

> the most trouble as a species, causing behaviors that are

> self-destructive and antisocial, also underlie humankind's phenomenal

> adaptability and evolutionary success. (continued..)

>

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/12/the-science-of-success/7761/

Good catch, Helen. A *fine* article!! I wish it could enjoy a far

larger circulation than it's likely to get.

The " new theory of genetics " though, while certainly provocative, is

nothing like new. Its general features have been known since the early

1950s in humans, and in plants for decades before that.

- Bill, AS, 79

--

WD " Bill " Loughman - Berkeley, California USA

http://home.earthlink.net/~wdloughman/wdl.htm

[Guest guest]

Newland wrote:

> Helen:

>

> Thanks for sending this. Some of the most recent autism research on

> twins suggested autism is 40% genetics and 60% environmental. This

> shocked a lot of folks who believed the bulk was genetic.

[ snip ]

Sorry: " the bulk " *is* genetic.

The confusion - even among professionals and in professional

literature - arises because " Inherited " , " heritable " , and " heritability "

are widely misunderstood terms.

The " 40% genetics " you quote likely refers to " heritability " , a

technical term with a mathematical definition, and it may be about the

right magnitude.

It remains the case though, that far and away the *largest fraction* of

autism is *genetic*, ...not " environmental " .

Put another way, " autism " can be 90% genetic (likely), and still have

40% " heritability " .

- Bill, AS, 79 ...geneticist

--

WD " Bill " Loughman - Berkeley, California USA

http://home.earthlink.net/~wdloughman/wdl.htm