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Moving on from old dichotomies: beyond nature—nurture towards a lifeline perspective

Joint Professor of Physics, Gresham College, London and Director, Brain and Behaviour Research Group, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 652125; fax: +44 (0) 1908 654167

Correspondence: e-mail: s.p.r.rose{at}open.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

ABSTRACT

Background Genetics is increasingly being used to explain human behaviours, with growing enthusiasm for what could be termed ‘genetic determinism’, which an ultra-Darwinist approach seeks to apply to all aspects of the human condition.

Aims To consider the validity of the claims concerning the genetics of human behaviour and psychological distress.

Method A critical review of the current assumptions about the relative contributions of genetics and the environment.

Results and conclusions Organisms are in constant interaction with their environment: that is, organisms select environments just as environments select organisms. Like organisms, environments evolve and are homeodynamic rather than homeostatic; both ‘genome’ and ‘envirome’ are abstractions from this continuous dialectic.

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