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The usual studies for disentangling genetics and environment involve twins raised together: they get basically the same shared environment -- this is a feature,
by pjscott 5y ago
The usual studies for disentangling genetics and environment involve twins raised together: they get basically the same shared environment -- this is a feature, not a bug -- but identical twins are more closely related than fraternal twins.
For example, say you're trying to find out how much of adult height comes down to genetics (in a modern, non-malnourished environment). You measure the heights of a bunch of twins and compare: how much more similar are the heights of identical twins than the heights of fraternal twins? Do a bit of calculating and you've got a number for heritability.
- bayesian_horse 5y agoYes. But then people take that street number from a "twins raised together" study and quote it as heritability of intelligence overall. My problem with this: Yes, if you put extreme limits on the environmental factors, you are mostly left with genetic factors. But that is not the reality of Human existence.