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Topic: Genetic determinism

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	The Great Debate: Determinism and Free Will
		Determinism is a far-reaching term affecting many areas of concern, that most widely and radically states that all events in the world are the result of some previous event, or events.
		The first variety of genetic determinism is the rather unsophisticated doctrine of genetic fixity, which holds that the genes of parents inevitably determine the characteristics of their children.
		Genetic determinism gains additional support and wider influence from the popular notion that, since we can now establish a scientific connection between one's genes and one's actual and/or potential physical traits (hair and eye colour, disease susceptibility, etc), then we should use this knowledge to restructure the genetic make-up of certain individuals.
	www.thegreatdebate.org.uk /determinismandfreewill.html (4033 words)

	David A. Kirby- The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA
		Genetic determinism, which is also known as bio-determinism or genetic essentialism, is the belief that human behavior, personality, and physical appearance are determined exclusively by a person’s genetic makeup.
		Genetic determinism is a reductionist ideology in that it seeks to explain a complex whole (a human being) in terms of its component parts (individual genes).
		Discrimination against the genetically unenhanced presupposes that genetic determinism is the true state of the world and that genetic manipulation actually improves an enhanced individual’s behavior and ability to perform a job; in this case, the genetically enhanced should always perform better than the genetically unenhanced and genetic discrimination is justified.
	www.depauw.edu /sfs/kirby81art.htm (7050 words)

	GENETIC DETERMINISM AS A FAILING PARADIGM IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE--JSWE Vol. 39 No. 2 (Spring/Summer 2003) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		His view is that genetic determinism, the major component of biological reductionism, is increasingly unable to contend with newer findings of biological complexity and that a new and more holistic scientific theory of living systems is required.
		In medical genetic studies (extended families) or in behavior genetics (twin studies), the sample sizes are small, so that error is large in detecting lack of interaction between heredity and environment.
		The problem for medical genetic theory is that the common diseases of cancer and of the circulatory system appear to be new; they were not significant causes of death and disability in the early part of the 20th century.
	www.cswe.org /publications/jswe/03-2strohman.htm (9098 words)

	Background essay on free will and genetic determinism
		What plausible versions of genetic determinism seem to explain, then, is not specific acts, or not without help from other factors, but general sorts of behavioral proclivities, personality traits and the like.
		We needn't be confusing determinism with fatalism, but on my account we're confusing it with something else, something for which we might more plausibly turn up evidence, in application to particular cases if not across- the-board: namely, psychological unfreedom, or internal behavioral constraint.
		This is where I think we can locate at least some of the special problems associated with genetic determinism, as opposed to the various other forms of determinism within the sciences, social or biological.
	www.philosophy.umd.edu /Faculty/PGreenspan/Res/gen2.html (1914 words)

	Genetic determinism -- Facts, Info, and Encyclopedia article (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		The term may be applied to the mapping of a single gene to a single phenotype or to the idea that all phenotypes are determined by genes.
		Though the difference between the normal and disease phenotypes are caused by mutations in single genes, the actual development of both involves many interacting genetic and environmental factors.
		It is often thought of as the hypothesis that all physical and behavioural phenotypes are determined solely by genes.
	www.absoluteastronomy.com /encyclopedia/g/ge/genetic_determinism.htm (230 words)

	Genetic Encores: The Ethics of Human Cloning
		And the genetic contribution to the traits we value most deeply, from intelligence to compassion, is conceded by even the most enthusiastic genetic researchers to be limited and indirect.
		Moreover, given the falsity of genetic determinism, any conclusions a child might draw from observing the person from whom he was cloned would be uncertain at best.
		In these cases, the social and legal determination of "who is the parent" may appear to proceed in defiance of profound biological facts, and to subvert attachments that we as a society are ordinarily committed to upholding.
	www.puaf.umd.edu /IPPP/Fall97Report/cloning.htm (3308 words)

	Biological determinism - Open Encyclopedia (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Biological determinism is the hypothesis that biological factors (as opposed to social or environmental factors) completely determine how a system behaves or changes over time.
		A biological determinist would look only at innate factors, such as genetic makeup, in deciding whether or not a given person would exhibit these behaviors.
		Biological determinism is the opposite of social determinism.
	open-encyclopedia.com /Biological_determinism (145 words)

	The Human Genome Map, the Death of Genetic Determinism and Beyond
		The dog is 85% identical to a human in terms of genetic sequence and many of the 380 inherited diseases in dogs are similar to those in humans.
		Genetic determinism is dead, and has been dead at least for close to twenty years [3].
		Long before we were told there aren’t enough genes to support the genetic determinist view, many scientists have concluded that there are no simplistic explanations for diseases in terms of single genes, because the action of each gene is modified and affected by many other genes.
	www.i-sis.org.uk /HumangenTWN-pr.php (2273 words)

	Foreign Dispatches: The Dangers of Genetic Determinism
		Contrary to popular belief, people in east Asia are no more genetically susceptible to short-sightedness than any other population group, according to researchers who have analysed past studies of the problem.
		I find it hard to see how genetics could possibly explain the disparities between Indians living in Singapore and those living in India proper, or between Israeli students in religious schools and those in ordinary ones.
		Arguments that ignore cultural and historical commonalities and differences in order to reduce everything to simple-minded genetic causes are outright invalid and unworthy of being taken seriously, and people who insist on making them despite being repeatedly corrected are simply stupid, certainly far too stupid to be casting aspersions on the "innate" capabilities of others.
	reti.blogspot.com /2004/07/dangers-of-genetic-determinism.html (454 words)

	Is evolutionary psychology another form of genetic determinism? (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		However, this is not what is usually meant by 'genetically determined.' Often, researchers propose a genetic basis for criminality, alcoholism, anti-social behavior, schizophrenia, heart-disease, what-have-you.
		Genetic differences between individuals are known to be quite minor compared to our genetic commonalties.
		Although there are no doubt minor differences in heart morphology that have a genetic basis, all hearts are built and function in exactly the same way.
	www.anth.ucsb.edu /projects/human/epfaq/determinism.html (400 words)

	biology - Genetic determinism
		Genetic determinism is the idea that genes determine a physical or behavioural phenotype.
		Evidence for the genetic influence on phenotypes comes from hereditary diseases, for instance, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, which are caused by mutations in single genes, and Down syndrome and Klinefelter's syndrome by the abnormal duplication of a chromosome.
		Dawkins, R. "The Myth of Genetic Determinism" in A Devil's Chaplain.
	www.biologydaily.com /biology/Genetic_determinism (262 words)

	WashingtonPost.com: Human Cloning Isn't as Scary as It Sounds
		To think otherwise is to embrace a belief in genetic determinism—the view that genes determine everything about us, and that environmental factors or the random events in human development are utterly insignificant.
		The overwhelming consensus among geneticists is that genetic determinism is false.
		As geneticists have come to understand the ways in which genes operate, they have also become aware of the myriad ways in which the environment affects their "expression." The genetic contribution to the simplest physical traits, such as height and hair color, is significantly mediated by environmental factors.
	www.washingtonpost.com /wp-srv/national/longterm/science/cloning/cloning6.htm (1259 words)

	The nonexistence of genetic determinism - Nature Genetics (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		In setting out to make genetic research comprehensible to the non-specialist and allay the fears he or she believes it has engendered in the minds of the public—fear of knowing the future, fear of the loss of free will and individuality and fear of discrimination—Peter Little employs an interesting literary device.
		An amazingly large number of areas of genetic research and technology are covered: gene regulation, development, twin studies, linkage analysis, genetic variability, selection, gene evolution and pharmacogenetics.
		Concepts of race and the genetics of intelligence and behavior are extensively discussed, and the author argues that the latter two areas are worthy of scientific investigation because of the potential to improve education and treatment.
	www.nature.com /ng/journal/v32/n2/full/ng1002-227.html (1572 words)

	Glossary Definition: Determinism
		Ultimately, if determinism is correct, then all events in the future are as unalterable as are all events in the past.
		genetics and human freedom, or unfreedom as it were, illustrates the extent to which genetic determinists place the influence of nature (biology and genetics) over nurture (society and family).
		The fundamental premises of genetic determinism are, therefore, 1) that we are victims of our genes and have no ultimate freedom, and 2) that with proper knowledge, we can take charge of our genes so that we are no longer their victim, but rather, are their architect.
	www.pbs.org /faithandreason/gengloss/determ-body.html (812 words)

	Brainstorms: Genetic Determinism and the Evolution of Humanness
		My claim here is that genetic determinism is a ‘very bad’ assumption that makes it impossible to understand humanness.
		The results of such studies are clearly not consistent with either the gradual or the discontinuous genetic determinism models.
		Just to name one example, no neuroscientist would suggest that the layout of synapses in the brain is determined in every detail by the genes--the brain obviously is capable of quite a lot of learning and adaptation within an organism's lifeforms, more so as you look at animals with progressively more complex brains.
	www.iscid.org /boards/ubb-get_topic-f-6-t-000101.html (1077 words)

	David A. Kirby: The New Eugenics in Cinema: Genetic Determinism and Gene Therapy in GATTACA
		Eugene understands that, based on his genetic makeup, he is expected to win every race, that he "was never meant to be one step down on the podium." Ultimately, Eugene comes to see that the unenhanced Vincent is better at being Eugene than Eugene himself.
		As was the case with genetic discrimination, the genetically-unenhanced Vincent’s ability to overcome his genetic prophecy calls into question the assumption of genetic determinism.
		The opening shot in the film depicts in extreme close-up a slender crescent-shaped object falling to the ground in slow motion; the shot is so disorienting that it is not until later that we learn this object is a fingernail purged by Vincent during one of his bodily scourings.
	www.depauw.edu /sfs/essays/gattaca.htm (8986 words)

	multiracial.com - Humans Must Reject Genetic Determinism in the New Millenium (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Although a return to spiritual determinism as decreed by a state church is inconceivable, the new century could, if we are not careful, portend a genetic determinism that is equally damaging to the human spirit.
		With the sharp rise in interracial marriages, there is increasing difficulty in determining applicants' racial and ethnic background, although it is one of the most visible genetic characteristics.
		Once they have this genetic information, it will be incredibly tempting for colleges and universities to weed out students with a genetic predisposition various unfavorable characteristic -- mental illness, for example -- since there is a chance they might not graduate and have a successful career that would ultimately benefit the institution.
	www.multiracial.com /abolitionist/word/blum-levin.html (1031 words)

	Termpapers on Genetic Determinism
		The conflict between free will and determinism has always had a profound affect on the human condition in our society.
		Some firmly believe that we have been shaped by our genetics and our environment while some support free will and believe that we are not determined at all.
		As far as genetic determinism is concerned, it can be safely concluded that no matter how important our genes are, human beings are not and cannot be solely defined by their heredity.
	www.custompapers.net /research/Genetic_Determinism-104374.html (167 words)

	Genetic Determinism
		Genetic determinism says that the genotype completely determines the phenotype, that is, the genes completely determine how an organism turns out.
		The genetic code is very basic and the phenotypic traits depend on more than just the genes.
		There are some excellent chapters on genetic determinism in Kim Sterelny's and Paul Griffiths's book, Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology.
	www.philosophytalk.org /pastShows/GeneticDeterminism.htm (808 words)

	Development of Neo-Darwinism
		Darwinism, as developed by Weismann and other "Neo-Darwinists," came to the conclusion that the source of evolutionary change is within the organism (random genetic mutation), not in the environment.
		If the nucleus and its genetic materials was in fact the origin of all biological expression, then we would expect that the removal of the same would cause the death of the cell.
		Life is a dark and brutal struggle, and when we seek scientifically the truth as to the "meaning" of life, we find no evidence at all of "meaning." Life is without meaning.
	www.trufax.org /avoid/neodarw.html (2299 words)

	Advocate
		Even if a genetic link is established, it can only mean we have a tendency to act in a certain way.
		There are too many factors, both biological and social, between a gene and a type of behaviour to justify any claim that one completely determines the other.
		Unless the limitations of genetic research are made clear, we will set a dangerous precedent in the long run.
	www.barbadosadvocate.com /NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=21404 (333 words)

	PSY: CHE: Dennett: The Mythical Threat of Genetic Determinism (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		The Mythical Threat of Genetic Determinism The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3.1.31 http://chronicle.com/weekly/v49/i21/21b00701.htm By DANIEL C. It is time to set minds at ease by raising the "specter" of "genetic determinism" and banishing it once and for all.
		The issue is not about determinism, either genetic or environmental or both together; the issue is about what we can change whether or not our world is deterministic.
		There were grasses that were genetically close to superplants that could be arrived at more or less by accident, just a few mutations away from big-head, nutritious grains, and animals that because of their social nature were genetically close to herdable animals that bred easily in captivity.
	www.wetheliving.com /pipermail/psychology/2003-January/000306.html (1955 words)

	genome.gov \| ONLINE Education Kit - Genetic Determinism - Endurance Athletes
		In 1999, scientists reported that a particular variant of the angiotens in-converting enzyme (ACE) gene was associated with superior physical endurance.
		The variant, known as the ACE insertion polymorphism, was found to be present in a higher proportion of elite endurance athletes, especially long distance runners, than in the general population.
		Marathon University is offering full-tuition scholarships and a guaranteed spot on the varsity track team to high-school sophomores who "pass" a genetic test.
	www.genome.gov /Pages/Education/Kit/main.cfm?pageid=101 (162 words)

	The Human Genome Map, the Death of Genetic Determinism and Beyond
		Genetic determinism is dead, and has been dead at least for close to twenty years
		It is impossible, in principle, to give the prognosis for any disease for an individual, let alone predict his or her lifestyle based on the person’s genetic makeup
		Consequently, there will be a genetic underclass -- children of the poor -- that will eventually become a separate, inferior species.
	www.ratical.com /co-globalize/MaeWanHo/HumanGmap.html (2174 words)

	Toward a new paradigm for life - Beyond genetic determinism
		While, as Gould says, the genetic reductionist theory has collapsed, the epigenetic, or dynamic, point of view retains genetics as part of a new theory or paradigm for life, one that has striking implications for the future of the life sciences.
		In the long run, the issue of genetic determinism will only be settled when something like epigenesis-dynamics becomes complete enough to challenge the present world view.
		In pursuit of a technology of genetic immortality, the HGP may be said to have put us on the road to finding technological improvements for the genomes of a few, using resources that could bring substantial benefits to all, if applied as preventive measures to the general population.
	www.psrast.org /strohmnewgen.htm (3534 words)

	Encyclopedia: Genetic determinism (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.
		Greenspan, P.S. Free will and genetic determinism: locating the problem(s) (http://www.philosophy.umd.edu/Faculty/PGreenspan/Res/gen2.html)
		Click for other authoritative sources for this topic (summarised at Factbites.com).
	www.nationmaster.com /encyclopedia/Genetic-determinism (198 words)

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