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I’ve always been interested in the nature vs. nurture debate. What is an inheritable trait? What is learned from the behavior of others?

If an aspect of human behavior is universally similar in all people, such as using certain facial features to signify major emotions (the smile, frown, etc.), does that mean it is genetically encoded by multiple genes?

Of course even traits that result from genes are shaped in how they are expressed by the environment. And since most of the molecules that are in your brain now weren’t there when you were born, the effects of the environment shouldn’t be underestimated.  The brain is very good at adaptation. Some aspects of behavior are definitely unique to particular sets of people, from particular geographies. Cannibalism is practiced by some tribes as a way to honor the dead friends that are being eaten, or to steal from the strength of dead enemies. Then there’s the practice in some parts of China of hiring strippers for funerals. Such aspects of behavior appear to be shaped more by one’s environment.

It’s an interesting phenomena that all humans actually recognize a smile.

Drug dealers, often glamorized by entertainment media, actually have a pretty terrible job, that pays most of them $3 an hour and within 4 years gives them a 25% chance of dying. That shocking mortality rate is actually a much worse chance of dying than if they were already sitting on death row!

This lecture by Freakonomics author Steven Levitt is very informative, rather funny, and quite horrifying:

http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=s_levitt

I’ve completed a new painting called “Tank examines the world.”