Genetic predisposition
A genetic predisposition is a
Behavior
Predisposition is the capacity humans are born with to learn things such as language and concept of self. Negative environmental influences may block the predisposition (ability) one has to do some things. Behaviors displayed by animals can be influenced by genetic predispositions. Genetic predisposition towards certain human behaviors is scientifically investigated by attempts to identify patterns of human behavior that seem to be invariant over long periods of time and in very different cultures.
For example, philosopher Daniel Dennett has proposed that humans are genetically predisposed to have a theory of mind because there has been evolutionary selection for the human ability to adopt the intentional stance.[1] The intentional stance is a useful behavioral strategy by which humans assume that others have minds like their own. This assumption allows one to predict the behavior of others based on personal knowledge.
In 1951,
The field of evolutionary psychology explores the idea that certain behaviors have been selected for during the course of evolution.
Genetic discrimination in health insurance in US
In US, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 21, 2008,[3] prohibits discrimination in employment and health insurance based on genetic information.
See also
- Human nature
- Nature versus nurture
- Behavioral genetics
- Predispositioning Theory
- Psychiatric genetics
- Gene-environment correlation
- Eugenics
- Eggshell skull
- MODY
- Allergy
- Oncogene
- Quantitative trait locus
- Genetic privacy
References
- ^ What does it mean to have a genetic predisposition to a disease?, US Department of Health
- ^ The Journal of Mental Health, July 1951, Vol. XCVII, "The Inheritance of Neuroticism: An Experimental Study", H. J. Eysenck and D. B. Prell, p. 402.
- ^ "Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008".
- ^ The results of this survey are discussed here (January 20, 1998).
- ^ A summary of U.S.A. executive orders and proposed legislation is compiled by the National Center for Genome Resources.
- ISBN 0-262-54053-3)