Santorum blames ‘abortion culture’ for Social Security woes

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Do you honestly believe that makes any sense as a response to the uniqueness of the human trait of ascribing external values to not only physical things but systems of belief? If so, I am not surprised you don't get my point.

Is there a point, or do you just insist upon being contrary?

[rika60607 215]

Adults? I could not resist sinking to your "adult" level.

It looks like the last time you were studying genetics/biochemistry was some 40 years ago and the only other knowledge you have of it comes from movies and yahoo articles. Those fields advanced a lot, but it does not look like you caught up. Behavioral neuroscience is a newly hot field. It is okay not to be up on those subjects - nobody can learn everything.

Am I wrong in concluding by your insightful remarks that you have no professional experience with genetics/biochemistry/neuroscience/psychology and you are not a scientist?

Have a cookie. Adults are talking here.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Am I wrong in concluding by your insightful remarks that you have no professional experience with genetics/biochemistry/neuroscience/psychology and you are not a scientist?

Do you mean I run gels all day and play with beakers? No.

[Peikko 1,575]

Is there a point, or do you just insist upon being contrary?

I made a point, very clearly. You singularly failed to comprehend it and started rattling on about squirrels as if that somehow merits a reasoned response. Sorry, it does not.

[rika60607 215]

Not really. A lab aid can do that without having any understanding of what they do. When's the last time you read a textbook on genetics, neuroscience, biology or psychology? When was the last time you regularly read and understood articles in peer reviewed journals (Science? Nature?) Judging from your comments - never or long time ago.

You are simply not up to the subject you are trying to discuss... you are ambitious - you won't give up even when you aren't up to the task... but you are not a hard worker - if you were you'd try to read up on the subject quickly, at least

Yet doubting that I had any experience dealing with animals was so delicious to you

Do you mean I run gels all day and play with beakers? No.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Not really. A lab aid can do that without having any understanding of what they do. When's the last time you read a textbook on genetics, neuroscience, biology or psychology? When was the last time you regularly read and understood articles in peer reviewed journals (Science? Nature?) Judging from your comments - never or long time ago.

You are simply not up to the subject you are trying to discuss... you are ambitious - you won't give up even when you aren't up to the task... but you are not a hard worker - if you were you'd try to read up on the subject quickly, at least

Is there something specific idea you want to discuss, or do you want to discuss curriculum vitae ad nauseam?

[Dan and Judy 614]

Genetically? Would you care to name the gene(s) responsible for hard drive and the genetic laws applicable? Is it dominant or recessive? How many genes is it encoded in? And mutations in those genes, do they produce some lazy-#### welfare recepients who therefore should really be on disability instead?

If nobody knows which genes are responsible for something, does that mean it can't be inherited?

[rika60607 215]

Yes. You seem to not have understanding of how genetic material manifests itself in physical representation. Even "simple" traits like eye color do not have a very simple inheritance patterns or biochemical pathways. Behavior is much much more complex than eye color. It is much harder to trace behavior to genes. The more complex behavior is, the harder it is to trace.

Laziness is a very complex behavior and on top of it, a very subjectively defined one.

Yet, although there is no scientific data suggesting that laziness (described for the purpose of this thread as failure to find a job and contribute to SS system) is hereditary, you insist that "it must be". Why? Because everything is determined by genes, therefore it must be.

Not everything is defined by genes entirely.

Eye color can depend on genes and food and lifestyle one leads.

Laziness has so many more factors behind it... If human genetics and behavior are interesting to you, please read up... you won't believe me, so please go find out for yourself and form an informed opinion.

Is there something specific idea you want to discuss, or do you want to discuss curriculum vitae ad nauseam?

[rika60607 215]

The answer to your question is no, it does not.

But if there is no experimental and/or statistical evidence normalized for other factors that a trait is indeed inherited, then it is wrong to make an assumption that it can be inherited.

There are plenty of human qualities and traits that are not inheritable.

If nobody knows which genes are responsible for something, does that mean it can't be inherited?

[^_^ 5,021]

you crazy libs and yer fancy book larnin'!

[mawilson 2,133]

What you seem to fail to grasp is that terms like 'ambition' are entirely subjective in nature.

They are, so what? Why can't there can be a genetic component to a

purely subjective construct that has no external meaning?

"Beauty" is entirely subjective; yet almost entirely genetic.

[Dan and Judy 614]

So, genetics provide the potential, the environment provides the stimulus.

that was Obama

[Dan and Judy 614]

The answer to your question is no, it does not.

But if there is no experimental and/or statistical evidence normalized for other factors that a trait is indeed inherited, then it is wrong to make an assumption that it can be inherited.

There are plenty of human qualities and traits that are not inheritable.

It seems to me that if there is no experimental and/or statistical evidence normalized for other factors that a trait is not inherited, then it would be wrong to assume that it can't be inherited.

[Amby 490]

Who said anything about evolution? A genetic trait doesn't have to be evolutionarily advantageous to be genetic.

For example, having blue or brown eyes is not evolutionarily advantageous, yet it's still genetic.

Some people are ambitious and want to accomplish something with their lives beyond survivability and mere reproduction. Others have no drive to succeed above the bare minimum. Who are you to claim that there's no genetic component to what we call "ambition"?

An ambition gene?

[Dan and Judy 614]

An ambition gene?

I'll bet you have a very large ambition gene. In fact when we find this gene we can name it after you. It will be the Ambyition gene.