Waubonsee Community College

The dependent gene, the fallacy of nature/nurture, David Scott Moore

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 290-302) and index

index present

non fiction

The dependent gene

bibliography

46713075

David Scott Moore

the fallacy of nature/nurture

This book is a masterful guide to human development that redefines the nature versus nurture debate. A much-needed antidote to genetic determinism, The Dependent Gene reveals how all traits -- even characteristics like eye and hair color -- are caused by complex interactions between genes and the environment at every stage of biological and psychological development, from the single fertilized egg to full-grown adulthood. How we understand the nature versus nurture debate directly affects our thoughts about such basic issues as sex and reproduction, parenting, education, and crime, and has an enormous impact on social policy. With life-and-death questions in the balance surrounding stem-cell research, cloning, and DNA fingerprinting, we can no longer afford to be ignorant of human development. An enlightening guide to this brave new world, The Dependent Gene empowers us to take control of our own destiny. - PublisherDiscusses the developmental systems perspective in biology, which proposes that genes and the environment contribute in an integrated manner to the traits an organism finally develops

Part one : Where we're going, where we've been. Introduction : "Hello Dolly" : the future is now -- From Aristotle's wonder to a fork in the road : the wrenching of genetics from development -- What Galton's eugenics has wrought : behavior genetics and heritability -- Listening to twins : a critique of twin studies -- Part two : Background basics. Dependent genes : essential biology and DNA -- Running noses, smelling feet : a primer on embryology -- Brain basics : some revelations of developmental neuroscience -- Part three : Developmental systems. A turtle in the shade : the development of sexual characteristics -- The Dutch Hungerwinter and The cat in the hat : how prenatal environments affect our traits -- Chicken shoes and monkey foods : the not-so-subtle effects of some very subtle postnatal experiences -- Tornadoes, stars, and human beings : the developmental systems perspective -- Part four : Development and evolution. The modern synthesis : what Mother Nature selects -- Legacies : how we get our environments -- On big muscles and facial hair : reconsidering "inherited," "acquired," and "innate" -- The fetal ape : consequences of integrating development and evolution -- Part five : Implications. When cows fly : the full-blown demise of genetic determinism -- Budging the bell curve : implications for education -- Finding the cost of freedom : complexity and responsibility -- Medical marvels : implications for genetic and environmental therapies -- Owning cloning : implications for new reproductive technologies -- Epilogue : In the beginning