DNA is destiny
December 3, 2009
As I have stated ad nauseum, the biggest difference between liberals and conservatives is their differing views of human nature. Whereas liberals see human beings as being born into the world as blank slates upon which any story can be written, conservatives see human nature as static and unchanging. This oversimplifies the situation but I wrote more on the topic here.
Science is finding more answers to the eternal questions of human nature, however, and the answers being produced are not, shall we say, politically correct. An article in the Economist explains that in the next several months, the news will be out and it is going to be uncomfortable.
Dozens of papers will report specific genes associated with almost every imaginable trait—intelligence, personality, religiosity, sexuality, longevity, economic risk-taking, consumer preferences, leisure interests and political attitudes. The data are already collected, with DNA samples from large populations already measured for these traits. It’s just a matter of doing the statistics and writing up the papers for Nature Genetics.
If you can identify the gene that causes a person to be risk averse, rowdy, religious, intelligent or stupid, you have said something profound about what it means to be human. You have established that, in a very meaningful way, your personality is already determined on the day you are born. This will come as little surprise to parents who have raised children and seen their own proclivities in their progeny. Your genes are, it seems, your destiny.
Further in the article is this.
Once enough DNA is analysed around the world, science will have a panoramic view of human genetic variation across races, ethnicities and regions. We will start reconstructing a detailed family tree that links all living humans, discovering many surprises about mis-attributed paternity and covert mating between classes, castes, regions and ethnicities.
We will also identify the many genes that create physical and mental differences across populations, and we will be able to estimate when those genes arose.
That will be very, very uncomfortable for liberals. Their view of human nature is that anyone can be anything and that there are no genetic differences between peoples and classes that aren’t superficial physical traits. If a genetic basis for intelligence is found, for example, it will become evident that it is more prevalent in some groups than others. This realization dashes the entire liberal worldview on the rocks. It is very, very politically incorrect and is flat out heresy for liberals.
This science, I think, is as likely to become corrupted by leftist ideologues as has climatology. There is just no way leftists can allow scientific facts undermine their cherished view that individuals can be anything society asks of them and that social engineering can produce a utopian state. It is going to be ugly.
BaconNeggs :
Date: December 4, 2009
RD, let me see if I understand this right, …a “Study into DNA variations” is being done by some hard to define group, to identify the “intelligence gene”?
Sound like a lot of market research crap to me. Sure we have certain groups that have higher intelligence than others but that is usually due to culture and environment, rather than DNA genetics or heritage.
I dont see the Liberal or Conservative angle you do, but I agree this kind of market research data with a DNA spin, can be twisted by any group to suit their narrow agenda.
R.D. Walker :
Date: December 4, 2009
“but that is usually due to culture and environment, rather than DNA genetics or heritage.”
Socially, we all agree that to be true. It is a sacred cow. The science, however, is not confirming this. In fact, it is showing that less and less of who we are is environment and more and more is genetic. That is what is so controversial.
R.D. Walker :
Date: December 4, 2009
By the way, this is far more than market research. Scientists can look at a gene sampling and tell if you are naturally risk averse or risk accepting based on what they see. They can do this with almost 100% accuracy. They can’t tell how you act day-to-day. Some people can overcome their risk acceptance behavior, but they can tell what your natural inclination is. That means that our personalities and abilities are hard coded at birth. For example, if you have musical talent, you may or may not become a musician. If you have no such talent, you won’t become a musician no matter what you do.
BaconNeggs :
Date: December 4, 2009
>>That means that our personalities and abilities are hard coded at birth. For example, if you have musical talent, you may or may not become a musician. If you have no such talent, you won’t become a musician no matter what you do.<<
Lets say I will believe this when I have seen the evidence for myself.
I guess it could be interesting for various careers, imagine the military using such DNA genetics to pre-screen applicants.
Oddly enough I sat next to a guy on a flight just days ago who had just enlisted in the Airforce but didnt believe in fighting or killing anyone. Basically he is anti-war but joined up to get a "free university education".
I told him if I was his recruiter he he would never be allowed to enlist in anyones military until he understood that others standing next to him are counting on him in battle, and what his role should be.
I wouldnt be surprised if DNA says a guy like that is perect for the military, yet I didnt need DNA just a simple understanding of personal character.
Bman :
Date: December 4, 2009
The ol’ nature vs nurture debate. I recal sometime back in the early 1980′s there was a highly profiled scientific study on this issue. One “scientist” commented to another “scientist” about the success of a co-worker. The 1st scientist believed his success was because he was a product of a good environment. The 2nd scientist believed his success had nothing to do with environment. “Breeding says the race horses, it’s in the blood,” he would say.
Their experiment was simple; take a man who lived a life of crime, offer him a house, car, and a job at a welled paid position, and at the same time take the successful co-worker, disgrace him, put him in the wrong surroundings with real scum, and ruin his life. The belief is that he would resort to crime.
The experiment was going well at first. The career criminal, when placed in good surroundings flourished, while the former successful man, when placed in horrible surroundings, did in fact resort to crime.
However, in the end, the career criminal stayed successful and no longer resorted to crime. Nurture won on that case. The former successful man, who was resorting to crime, bounced back and became successful again despite the horrible surroundings. Nature won.
I personally believe, that perhaps man is a product of both. No doubt genetics have a huge factor in somones personality. But I also believe that environment plays a big factor as well. I am who I am today because of genetics, but also the environment my folks created. And for that, I am very thankful
R.D. Walker :
Date: December 4, 2009
BMan: That sounds like Louis and Billy Ray: “Looking good, Billy Ray!” “Feeling good, Louis!”
There is no doubt that both play a factor. You can be in possession of the gene sequence that causes you to be risk accepting and in need of unique experiences and turn that into a life of crime or a life as a Navy Seal.
The scientists can tell from your genetic code if you are risk averse or risk accepting, not whether you are a criminal or a Seal.
Here is the science on thrill seeking.
The new science is identifying the combinations of many genes that lead to various behaviors.
Tess :
Date: December 4, 2009
Sounds like Mengele’s research is still going on, only taking a different course to get to the desired end. The libs only disagree with the DNA thing until they get to the gay issue, then, of course, you hear that they are “born this way.”
Actually, don’t you remember a cover for Time or Newsweek (what’s the difference) announcing a ‘God’ gene. I believe the gene is supposed to be in the DNA of people who are what the reporters termed as ‘religious’. I see it kinda as “I know my sheep and they know me.”
Roy Ryder :
Date: December 4, 2009
I’m less concerned with people identifying the genetics related to behavior than I am of someone coming along who wants to “make people better” by removing those genes that are considered undesireable. While I think this is far more likely to come from the liberal side than the conservative side, anyone with good intentions and a willness to trample free will (as we are seeing in the current administration) is a candidate. This is why it is so important for conservatives to make a stand now and state that we are for freedom over state or other imposed restraints (within reason, of course) wherever possible. We are for people to have the freedoms guaranteed within the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, but we are also for people to be free to be who they are, what they are, and what they want to be before and during the exercise of those freedoms. This is not a call to excuse humanity from responsibility for our actions, but to be able to choose our actions as God intended and not as human agents designed. We must understand that this has inherent negatives: This is the freedom to make mistakes, to choose to do evil, and to fail. However, without those negatives, none of our other freedoms matter a damn.
R.D. Walker :
Date: December 4, 2009
One fear I have about this Climategate bullshit is that it will lead conservatives will go all anti-science and turn Luddite. There is nothing wrong with science. Science is strong and healthy and we all enjoy this site and a million other benefits of better living though science.
Science: good.
Remember, science doesn’t corrupt anything. Science gets corrupted by people. I think that is part of what Roy is saying.
MadBrad :
Date: December 4, 2009
A Shrimp Boat Captain “Goober” from Jacksonville, Florida recently discovered the “Whore Gene”.
While on a recent hunting trip with his youngest Son they engaged in a conversation about his oldest Son, who was not along for the trip because he had never taken an interest in Hunting. While passing the miles on their way to Southern Illinois the Son turned to his Father and said; “Dad, Ben has got a HUGE Dick. I saw it the other day. It looks like a Maglite flashlight hanging almost to his knees”. It didn’t take Captain Goober long to process that information.
“Son, we all know that Ben is different but that right there proves that your Mother was fucking around on me while I was in the Marine Corps. You can now rest assured that I am your Father. We’re the ones with the head of a Bulldog and the dick of a Chihuahua”.