3 ms·

3. A substantial portion of the variation in complex human behavioral traits is not accounted for by the effects of genes or families. This is the one that I c

by narag 7y ago

3. A substantial portion of the variation in complex human behavioral traits is not accounted for by the effects of genes or families. This is the one that I can't understand how do they know. Consider the case in which some behaviour is the result of a combination of genes. One of them is on in 95% of individuals and off in 5%. When one of them is on, the fen. is on. It's still genetics but, unless you are certain of every gene that takes part in the combination, how will you know? Actually, when they say that behavioral traits are heritable, are they saying that these genes are identified or is it just statistics?

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
bobcostas55 7y ago
>Actually, when they say that behavioral traits are heritable, are they saying that these genes are identified or is it just statistics? Typically it's just statistics (usually based on twin studies). In the last few years we have started doing large Genome-Wide Association Studies (with sample sizes of over a million in some cases) which are a first step toward identifying the relevant genes. But there are still many limitations: GWAS typically use SNP arrays which only measure specific points in the genome instead of sequencing the whole thing (because it's much cheaper). The SNPs identified may not be causal themselves but simply correlated with the causal gene.
- selfishgene 7y ago
  Just a few weeks ago someone posted the following study on hacker news: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183507/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183507/ Here the authors claim that they were able to identify a particular gene that is likely to predispose an individual to extreme impulsiveness.
  - bobcostas55 7y ago
    That's a candidate gene study, none of them replicate.
    - shard972 7y ago
      Ah so when it comes to genetics instead of social or climate science we need to approach with extreme skepticism.
BurningFrog 7y ago
I read somewhere that the "neither genes or families" part is mostly peer group growing up. Also if you randomly get hit by a truck etc.

by narag 7y ago

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

bobcostas55 7y ago

>Actually, when they say that behavioral traits are heritable, are they saying that these genes are identified or is it just statistics? Typically it's just statistics (usually based on twin studies). In the last few years we have started doing large Genome-Wide Association Studies (with sample sizes of over a million in some cases) which are a first step toward identifying the relevant genes. But there are still many limitations: GWAS typically use SNP arrays which only measure specific points in the genome instead of sequencing the whole thing (because it's much cheaper). The SNPs identified may not be causal themselves but simply correlated with the causal gene.

selfishgene 7y ago
Just a few weeks ago someone posted the following study on hacker news: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183507/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183507/ Here the authors claim that they were able to identify a particular gene that is likely to predispose an individual to extreme impulsiveness.
- bobcostas55 7y ago
  That's a candidate gene study, none of them replicate.
  - shard972 7y ago
    Ah so when it comes to genetics instead of social or climate science we need to approach with extreme skepticism.

BurningFrog 7y ago

I read somewhere that the "neither genes or families" part is mostly peer group growing up. Also if you randomly get hit by a truck etc.