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Is there a genius in all of us?
BBC ^ | January 12, 2011 | David Shenk

Posted on 01/13/2011 3:39:14 PM PST by decimon

Where do athletic and artistic abilities come from? With phrases like "gifted musician", "natural athlete" and "innate intelligence", we have long assumed that talent is a genetic thing some of us have and others don't.

But new science suggests the source of abilities is much more interesting and improvisational. It turns out that everything we are is a developmental process and this includes what we get from our genes.

A century ago, geneticists saw genes as robot actors, always uttering the same lines in exactly the same way, and much of the public is still stuck with this old idea. In recent years, though, scientists have seen a dramatic upgrade in their understanding of heredity.

They now know that genes interact with their surroundings, getting turned on and off all the time. In effect, the same genes have different effects depending on who they are talking to.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: dewey; education; gatto; genius; godsgravesglyphs
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1 posted on 01/13/2011 3:39:15 PM PST by decimon
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To: SunkenCiv; neverdem; DvdMom; grey_whiskers; Ladysmith; Roos_Girl; Silentgypsy

Home is where you hang your genome ping.


2 posted on 01/13/2011 3:40:28 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

After seeing Pelosi in action, I highly doubt that ALL would be the correct word.


3 posted on 01/13/2011 3:42:48 PM PST by TexasPatriot1 ("Tyranny is defined as that which legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry" Jefferson)
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To: decimon
How does a Shakespeare become Shakespeare? A Michaelangelo become a Michaelangelo?

Everything we are is in our power at birth. We are all gifted. I believe it's a fishbowl...The degree of expressing our gift is solely in our hands.

4 posted on 01/13/2011 3:45:52 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: decimon

Not in Joe Biden. Guaranteed.


5 posted on 01/13/2011 3:48:15 PM PST by jessduntno ("'How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think." - Adolph Hitler)
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To: decimon
Being a sooooooper geeeeenius ain't all it's cracked up to be.


6 posted on 01/13/2011 3:53:43 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares ( Refusing to kneel before the "messiah".)
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To: decimon

But new science suggests the source of abilities is much more interesting and improvisational.

What kind of science is that?


7 posted on 01/13/2011 4:01:27 PM PST by Jolla
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To: decimon

Since many people thought a study was needed to determine this, I’d say is’t quite safe to say not everyone is a genius.


8 posted on 01/13/2011 4:18:49 PM PST by Moose Burger
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To: Jolla
The liberal science of “everyone is super smart except republicans no matter what those pesky tests show”.
9 posted on 01/13/2011 4:20:35 PM PST by Durus (The distance between us has grown, and I struggle to quantify it. Windage adjustments are done.)
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To: decimon

My family has the artistic (drawing) gene. Some of us have it and some don’t. If you have it, it comes out very early and requires little schooling. My grandaughter at two could paint recognizeable portraits with hair, noses, eyes and mouths in the right place. They were recognizeable in a general way as to the person she was painting. For instance, daddy had a crew cut. Mommy had long hair. Their eye colors were correct.

My mother was a commercial artist, I have been a painter and my son also has the natural ability to draw. I even have an extra muscle in my hand from that of normal folks. I believe part of the knack is the ability to guage visual relationships, oragnize and replicate them. My Dad has absolutely no gift in that regard. My daughter has other creative gifts but not the drawing gene.

I am one who does believe that there is a strong genetic predisposition to certain talents. There seems to be a drive to do it and if you do well at it early in life, you are much more prone to develop it because it brings you creative pleasure.


10 posted on 01/13/2011 4:21:00 PM PST by marsh2
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To: decimon
Is there a genius in all of us?

VERY good question. Genius and excellence is found in many varieties. Sports, arts and performing arts give us, to quote, "vivid examples". Yet, there are less celebrated, yet cherished varieties such as leadership, visionary, meticulousness, diplomatic, amiable/friendliness, craftsmanship, warrior/soldier, on and on. It is almost a crime that there is such focus on academics as the most favored type of genius.

11 posted on 01/13/2011 4:30:55 PM PST by VRW Conspirator (If raising taxes on an activity reduces such an activity, let's tax liberalism to death.)
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To: decimon

I am a genius. But only where it concerns annoying my co-workers.


12 posted on 01/13/2011 4:31:39 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim (Jubtabulously We Thrive!)
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To: decimon
Is there a genius in all of us?


13 posted on 01/13/2011 4:35:11 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Names Ash Housewares

Wile E. Coyote’s true genius was his tenacity.


14 posted on 01/13/2011 4:37:58 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: decimon
You-look-smart-in-those-genes ping.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

15 posted on 01/13/2011 4:47:03 PM PST by The Comedian (Sarah Palin: America's last, best hope.)
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To: decimon

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting it.


16 posted on 01/13/2011 4:56:06 PM PST by Bigg Red (Palin/Hunter 2012 -- Bolton their Secretary of State)
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To: Yardstick

It’s true.
As a kid, you think of yourself as the Roadrunner.
As an adult, you completely realize your the Coyote!

You’ll excuse me, I have some ACME products to order.


17 posted on 01/13/2011 5:04:13 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares ( Refusing to kneel before the "messiah".)
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To: decimon; martin_fierro; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...

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I'm pretty sure there's a moron in each of us, so, why not? :')
It turns out that everything we are is a developmental process and this includes what we get from our genes.
Thanks decimon!

Helix, Make Mine a Double ping.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
 

· History topic · history keyword · archaeology keyword · paleontology keyword ·
· Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword ·


18 posted on 01/13/2011 6:19:56 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: SunkenCiv
I'm pretty sure there's a moron in each of us, so, why not? :')

Posting to internet forums might be a sign.

19 posted on 01/13/2011 6:25:49 PM PST by decimon
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To: SunkenCiv


Ahhhhh......no.

20 posted on 01/13/2011 6:27:49 PM PST by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress!)
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