I grew up with a pair of twins. Two boys, so alike we could not tell them apart when they were newborn. Today, they have grown in to two very different men. The youngest twin, tall, blonde, strong, thrives over the joy of carpentering and make broken things work again. The older twin, petite and dark, is more drawn towards IT and computers. They are a good example that despite your environment, the genes you are born with will not influence the person you will become. It would make sense that they would become alike, enjoying the same things and spend a lot of time with each other. But they are just as any other siblings and the only difference for them is that they just shared the same womb. Essentially, the genes we get is a random stack of cards. We can’t really do anything with them nor can we change them or trade the bad ones away. I do not belive that the genes we get decide what profession we are going into in the future. I would say that such decisions depends on the environment that we grow up in, our family, the friends we choose and the choices that we make. I’m sure I would be very different to what I am today if I grew up in another country other than Norway!
From Ms Gina Dalen
Norweigan journalism graduate based in Gjovik, Norway
I agree that what we inherit does not necessarily mean that it is set in stone. You may possess a certain gene that makes you good at a certain skill, however, if you do not get the opportunity to maintain that skill, it will never make any difference. It very much depends on your surrounding and living standards as for example, you may be prone to becoming a mathematical expert, but if your family cannot afford to pay for your education, that will never become a reality. Another aspect of this is the importance of recognising the talent and some people never do. There is definitely a need to recognise and respect individual differences that are genetically driven as this may cause anxiety and depression to the child. Pressuring a child with learning disabilities may result in worsening his or her condition. Therefore, it is very much important that such studies are made public in order to spread global awareness to parents around the world. As science is advancing and we are now able to look into behaviour on another level than previously, we can now make links. For example, mental illnesses have always been said to be due to wrong environment, however, now we know that it is actually due to a defect in the genes. In terms of nature versus nurture, both are equally important as they complement each other. Nature is important as it points to your predisposition for certain skills, but nurture sharpens your ability to perform that specific skill.
From Dr Naresh Dhar
Indian psychiatrist based in Dubai
Nothing is ever set in stone. I have four children, two elder ones and twins that are seven years old. And all of them are unique and different in their own way, surprisingly the twins are more similar to their elder siblings than they are to each other. While one of the twins is good at reading and languages, the other is good at mathematics and science. So, they may possess the same genes yet are very different. I definitely think that such studies are important to the society and especially relevant to parents and educators. It gives us a wider understanding and in terms we can come up with various strategies on how to deal with our children. It is important to recognise and respect differences that are genetically driven because it teaches us how to deal with chidren. Every child can be reached through some way, whether it is art or music. There is a specific process on how to deal with various behaviours and that is essentially what we find in such studies. Nature is as important as nurture, however nurture is slightly more important because nature is a given. Each person is born with a special gift, but unless we develop it, there’s no point and it is up to our environment to help us do that. The importance lies in the lessons that we are given in order to work on our skills.
From Ms Adeyela Bennett
American teacher based in Ras Al Khaimah
I disagree that heritability rules our future. Sure, we may be prone to certain skills, but if we don’t maintain that skill, it will never be of any use to us. There are various factors that needs to be taken into account when looking at nature and nurture such as our environment, background, family and friends. It is not a given that you will become a mathematician because you are prone to mathematics. What if you are never given the chance to go to school? Then, that specific gene is of no use. Therefore, nurture plays a crucial role in our education. I find such studies very interesting as it gives us a wider perspective and understanding for different behaviours and in turn, we know how to treat children. Parents often have the misconception of learning disabilities being due to laziness, and therefore tend to apply more pressure on the child thinking that this will make a difference. The truth is that the child cannot really do anything about him being prone to having difficulties in terms of his education other than study extra hard in order to overcome it. Such studies need to be highlighted to the public, especially parents and teachers, as they deal with children on a daily basis.
From Mr Mustafa Al Zoubaydi
Iraqi medical student based in Gdansk, Poland
It’s until late twentieth century that people had their beliefs defined in terms of education differently and had the implications of heredity having a strong upper hand but with changing times and opportunities, the bond of educational abilities and genes have lost its relevance .
As per many researchers it has been found that emotions and genetic disorders are the only inherited traits and rest is upon the right kind of nurture provided, the opportunities given and a timely approach has a better role to play. To say that a doctor’s son has to become a doctor or else there is something wrong with the person or needs to be left dejected is a very wrong approach. Every person is unique and has his or her own set of interests and to respect each one is extremely important. Let’s all grow out of having our new generation tagged along the occupation and out of genetic factors, which were always termed as the important features and let them be free to explore and excel in the field that they have their interests in.
From Ms Sudha Kathuria
Indian principal based in Dubai
