Human Nature, Culture, and Genetics: An In-Depth Analysis
Human Nature and Culture
The human being is characterized by a genetic nature. Throughout their life, people acquire a culture composed of habits and customs, language, and knowledge and belief.
Nature vs. Culture
Nature: It refers to the genetic determinants that an individual has from birth. It includes all those factors and conditions that we inherited (number of fingers, ability to speak, etc.).
Culture: It is everything that humans have learned or acquired. Equivalent terms are environmental or acquired. This includes customs and social norms, utensils and tools, beliefs, knowledge, languages, art, science, and religion.
Humans are born into and develop within a culture. There are factors that depend solely on genetics (eye color) and others that are cultural (ways of greeting). Others depend on both nature and the environment.
The Biological Nature of Humans
The biological nature of humans is the set of capabilities and characteristics that define the human and are encoded in its genome. The genetic characteristics are shared by all members of a species; the differences lie in the individuals.
All individuals of the same species share a set of characters distinguishing them from other species. Shared genetic factors cause an individual to belong to a particular species, e.g., the human species. With sexual reproduction, the characters of the offspring are derived from both male and female, and each individual is the result of this genetic exchange. Genetic factors also ensure that all human beings are different.
There are no two identical human beings, with one exception: twins from the same egg. They share the same genetic information and are very similar. Here, experiences are essential and make a difference, but habits, tendencies, and propensities are very similar.
The Influence of Genes on Behavior
Numerous studies show that genes, in addition to determining the form and function of each part of the body, also determine aspects of their behavior.
Case Studies:
- Identical Genes, Different Environments: In the case of identical twins (same genes) who were separated at birth, both brothers have similar behaviors and habits, without ever having been together.
- Different Genes, Similar Environments: This is not the case with adopted children who have been educated in the same family. The results reveal the dependence of genetics; the behavior of children shows many similarities with that of their biological parents, without having had contact.
In both cases, it shows the influence of genetics on the conduct of people.
Genetic Determinism
According to genetic determinism, physical and behavioral aspects of a person are determined solely by genes. Environmental and cultural factors are ignored, which is not accurate. Today, few scientists argue that. Genes predispose behavior but do not determine that conduct.
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Genetic engineering biotechnology is the manipulation and transfer of DNA from one organism to another, enabling the creation of new species, correction of genetic defects, and manufacturing of many compounds. Some philosophers argue that genetics and genetic engineering have to be at the service of humanity to eradicate diseases that are carried in the genes. Despite some problems, it has countless benefits.
Other thinkers argue against the aim of improving the human genome using artificial techniques known as eugenics, as applied by the Nazis.
Human Breeds and the Concept of Race
Breeds are groups of individuals who show a greater genetic similarity than they do with individuals from other groups. The notion of race is based on the idea that individuals are physically different because they have adapted to different climates and environments.
There are differences among individuals due to the geographical region where they live and the environmental conditions they face. Natural selection has favored those traits that have enabled individuals to adapt better to their environment.
In the nineteenth century, the physical differences between human groups, such as skin color, led scientists to suggest that the human species could be subdivided into several races. There were 4 main trunks: whites, blacks, Mongoloid, and aboriginal Australians.
Most scientists reject the term applied to the human race. Homo sapiens originated one hundred and fifty thousand years ago and spread throughout the Earth in a very short time. This prevents the concept of race from being supported by genetics. There is no clear genetic improvement between groups, but there is a continuum.
Racism
Racism is to assume that there are superior and inferior human races. The superior races are considered to have particularly relevant attributes such as intelligence, while the inferior races lack such attributes. The racist is justified by scientifically false or fabricated claims. Nazism is a clear example of racism.