The Taste of Pain

An anonymous reader writes "The more the human genome is unraveled and previously non-genetic based attributes are now associated with a specific genetic function, such as physical and emotional pain and taste, it seems, to me, that our personalities appear to be much less influenced by out environment and more by our genes." A related article links your sense of taste to your risk for cancer, heart disease, etc.

Comments

Stephen J. Gould is Rolling Over in His Grave

[Seanasy]

If he hadn't left us so prematurely, I'm sure the recent spate of genetic determinism would have given him enough material for another edition or two of The Mismeasure of Man .

RIP, Mr. Gould. You tried.

Nature vs Nurture

[t0ny]

Well, there was a recent study of a cloned cat. The 'new' cat was very different behavior-wise, and even had different spotting. To see the two cats together, you would never guess they were from the exact same genetic material.

In fact, this correlates with one twin study I read a long time ago- the two brothers were separated at birth, one was somewhat well off, the other grew up poor (and was raised in an orphanage). The poor one was an introvert, while the other was an extrovert. Of note, however, was that both smoked the same brand of cigarettes, and used the same obscure, imported toothpaste.