The Process of Socialization Nature vs Nurture

How do you live? We all live in different worlds. Nobody can claim that their life has been the same as yours. You might be wealthy or poor, a megastar, or an anonymous face in a city of millions. Your genes make you unique, but so does your life. It is different from every other human life on earth.

Different beginnings You may have had quite a different nine months in the womb compared to that of your brother or sister. …and once you are born then just about anything can happen. And almost everything that occurs during your childhood and adolescence could be having an impact on your health, your career and the relationships you are forming today.

Blame it on the genes? Your genes in combination with your early experiences of life are having an enormous impact on you. In certain instances it is very clear cut. Eye colour for example, is a product of our genes and can only be changed with contact lenses.

Two for the price of one A group of people are revealing more about how genes influence our lives than any other. Identical twins have exactly the same genes.

A natural laboratory Some identical twins find themselves separated at a young age and brought up in different homes. They share all the same genes but experience a very different environment. If there are differences between them it is likely to be because of their different environments.

How much is inherited? A recent study of British twins has revealed that the need to wear glasses is largely genetic. Another study has shown that genes have very little influence on our ability to withstand pain.

A head start? Your height as an adult is determined to some extent by your genes. But your diet and the environment in which you develop will determine exactly where on the tape measure you finish up.

Your genes have a strong enough effect on your height for you to be able to predict what the adult height of your children should be if they are given a good diet.

A heavy burden? Weight is one of those complex features which are likely to be influenced by many different genes and all manner of external influences. But there is no doubt about the impact of external factors. Diet and exercise will shed the pounds if you can stick at it. Genetics won't provide an excuse for tucking into fish and chips every night but there may be a genetic explanation for why some people find that diets never seem to work.

Can you make a genius? Research into the inheritance of IQ has been one of the most controversial areas of genetics. Many scientists do believe that a great deal of our intelligence is inherited but there remains controversy.