Genetics, Environment and Adaptation.
There has been a long standing battle between those who would
argue their preference for the influences of genetics versus the environment.
Some would insist that this 'split' is now tired and a bit irrelevant
these days. The social impact of this old argument remain with us, in our
institutions, although more intelligent, modern thinkers realise that this kind
of thinking is simplistic, rather than a fundamental truth.
Well here is a simple fact for you. Genetics has no significance
other than its effect on animals (including humans) 'within the environment'.
The environment is everything outside of genes, everything from our bodies,
brains, minds, social relationships, physical objects of all kinds and time &
space itself. In fact, it can even be argued that genes are actually part of
that general environment, they certainly replicate themselves within and from it
(this is my position).
I start from the simple assertion that both genes and environment
are equally important, neither one more relevant than the other. They are
interactive and inseparable and achieve a dynamic balance, whatever we do. If
genes are completely corrupted by the environment, life (as we know it) ceases .
If our environment is destroyed to the extent that life ends, those genes end
along with it. You can not get more interdependent than that.
The interaction of genes is not (as commonly thought) simply
one-on-one. The genetic influences are conditional upon the prevailing physical
and social environment. That is to say a particular set of genes will have a
different influence within differing environments. In the case of us human
beings, the psycho-social environment has a particularly powerful and
significant effect on how genes are interrupted and how they show themselves in
the behaviour, perceptions and thinking of human beings. This, in turn, affects
how 'selected' they become.
Genetics has a particularly complex influence when it impacts on
our language, thinking and socialisation. Our peculiar form of genetic makeup
has given us a combination of physical, mental and emotional features that means
we can significantly 'adapt' our environment to suit us (or destroy us and
everything else with it). It has even given us the potential to extend life and
to alter the basic building blocks of life (genes).
In the case of human beings, in particular, genetic makeup
interacts with our physical and social environment, to influence how we are
physically and what perceptual and mental capabilities we have. It also gives us
the flexibility to choose (in large measure) how we use our physical bodies, how
we perceive and how we our train or minds, to our advantage, however puny either
one aspect may be. We are genetically endowed to be mentally and socially
adaptive.
The old genetic argument; 'red (or strong) in tooth and claw',
looses its significance, compared with human capabilities, as expressed through
a few genetic advances over the primates. This human gene makeup has been
evolving for some time and the genetic variations over the last few thousand
years are insignificant compared with the 'psycho-social evolution' that
was generated some 75,000 years ago and started to express itself in earnest,
perhaps less that 10,000 years ago.
Like Moore's Law in relation to computers, human mental and
social, or psycho-social capabilities advance (and periodically, partially
regress) at a similar kind of increasing rate. We are capable of utilising our
advanced psycho-social skills but are also able to draw upon our more primitive
instincts and perceptions, magnifying these through our various technological
advances.
Not all our uses of this dual potential is always to our
own short, or medium term advantage and certainly can even be to our long term
detriment. Then again, which elements of humanity destroy themselves in this
process and which others organise themselves for survival, is also a form of
natural selection. Who know who will win in the end? If anyone? Do we care? Is
it important? Do we need a mystical answer to these questions?
Some of this struggle, between the two side of ourselves, seems
to be accidental. Perhaps it is a bit random, but the pattern is quite clear. We
are still in the transition between the primitive (animal) genetic disposition
and the psych-social (higher order human) disposition. Both broad traits, and
everything else that evolved in between, continues to evolve and is represented
in the struggle within each of us and within our communities, institutions and
societies.
One thing is for certain: Those genetic features that are most
practical and best adapt us for our environment (at any point in time);
combined with those adaptations which give us advantages in how we perceive and
conceive of things; coupled with those genetic adaptations that best allow us to
express and create the most suitable environments for our survival; will
be those that will win (assuming human beings actually manage this successfully
between themselves).
It is from this perspective on genetics, with its inseparable link
with environment and its psycho-social influences, that I argue the need
to revise what we understand to be 'mental health' and 'mental ill-health'. I
will show through argument; providing the logical associations with
available evidence and through modern scientific thinking, how our perspective
on mental health is an historical distortion. It misrepresents our underlying human
perception, thinking and understanding.
In effect, I argue that there are many legitimate perceptions and
understandings of nature and of ourselves, and there are very few that
are fundamentally corrupted by some 'organic' cause, or mutation (unless
we want to consider that all adaptations are of this type). We are a
highly adapted species, with multiple, alternative pathways to survival and
towards individual and social development. Some may be better that others, often
time will tell, but we have the power to short cut this process.
In the words of Bob Dylan; 'The slow one now will later be fast,
as the present is now and will later be past'. Genetic dispositions, of the
important kind that we are talking about, have a time and place where they come
into their own, when they are enabled to do so, to the advantage of human kind.
Most of these dispositions are already there. It is 'nurture' that brings then
out in the particular form and the social environment that determines what
social value they have.
Conclusion (for now):
Current mutations have a very small bearing by comparison. These
may affect individuals in the short term and, if viable in all other respects
(i.e.: they don't kill us) they may prove beneficial in the future. The
established dispositions are activated by available knowledge, resources
and prevailing circumstances. The influence (for human beings at least) is now
fully two way.
Look; When it comes to Genetics, I have to admit that I am an
enthusiastic amateur. I simple re-interpret and update the incredible thinking
of those I have read about. The pioneers in this field. I have also had
incredible conversations with those who are at the coal face of the field,
playing with ideas and theory. This is also true for the other subject areas.
Like myself, in the field of mental health, I know there are
inspired students of Genetics and Heredity (and other relevant subjects) who are
pushing the boundaries and exposing the more fundamental truths. Some will be in
relative isolation, struggling against the established notions and corrupted
interpretations. That is in the nature of the development of scientific ideas.
*** I wish you luck and invite you to make a more informed
contribution to this site. We think outside the box and sometimes even get out
of it completely.
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Genetics
Genetics is the study of how the fundamental
construction blocks of nature (genes) directly influence our physical growth,
the development of organs (including our brains) and the development of mental
and social capabilities; like thinking, language, social organisation and
behaviour.
In addition; this study helps to explain some aspects of
evolution and the adaptations that 'happen' and which prove
beneficial to particular animals (including humans) within particular
environments and under certain circumstances, over time.
‘It is not the strongest of the species
that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.’
Charles Darwin
Geneticists usually consider how small genetic changes
(mutations) sometimes show themselves to be an advantage, or a disadvantage, to
a particular species. They also seek to understand the relationship between
genes and the physical and behavioural features that can be observed. That is,
how genes are involved in constructing the physical organism that differentiates
and grows into a being, expressing certain characteristic behaviours, mental
processing and social functioning.
Some of us are also interested in how this simple biological
process establishes complex mental, emotional and social dispositions that (in
effect) are able to allow us to influence our own personal, social and species
development. How and why, in fact, we are able to influence our given genetic
dispositions, our physical and social environments, out diet, our health, forms
of social organisation and our personal and collective behaviours.
In this respect, our understanding of genetics comes
full cycle and our very genetic disposition has allowed us to directly and
indirectly influence future generations, largely at will, if we choose to do so.
Sometimes this appears to be by an apparent accident, or perhaps, in spite
of our considered wishes and intentions (ignorance).
This general genetic disposition even extends to giving us
(indirectly) moral and ethical perspectives on these very issues. These
influences have been evident through social modelling, teaching and adapting
forms of social order; Through the selective breeding of animals for our own
purpose; More recently, this has been through the direct manipulation of genes,
transforming the features that a species exhibits, to the intended benefit of
man; It is also through our generating of modified human cells / genes, for
medical purposes, to overcome genetic conditions.
NOTE:
This Document is still at some stage of
development. You are invited to respond and comment on its content and its
logic. If you return to the document at a future date, you will be able to see
its continued development, hopefully reflecting your own and others commentary.
I thank you, in advance, for any
contribution that you make. Please also feel free to visit and contribute, in
any valid way, to these and other social issues, through our Forums. There is
also a Chat Room and protected Chat Space for more serious group discussions and
individual counselling. Please feel free o use this space for your legitimate
activities.
Copyright:
Although you will see very few reference
to other formal writings in this document, I acknowledge general recognition to
the discussions and debates that I have had with students, practitioners and
clients over the years. Most of the ideas and theory has evolved through this
rather pragmatic process (operational research), rather than any formal reading.
If any content of this document
describes concepts, theory, or ideas that have been established else where,
(prior to my writing, either here or else where - in part or in full), I
acknowledge their entitlement to claim them as their intellectual property for
financial purposes, if they can evidence this. I also reserve the right to
retain them as my intellectual property, with due recognition to those who have
made direct contributions, including other writers, should I identify such a
past influences.
Other than this, I invite you to share
and copy any content, to the benefit of intellectual debate and the benefit of
individuals and groups, without restriction, other than it be used for
constructive purpose, in the wider context of my writing.
Should you wish to use any material
presented here 'as is', I ask that you then make reference to myself and the web
site. The 'Reading Date' would be a useful 'publishing date' for the Current
Edition. 1980 is the core publishing date for most of the basic ideas and theory
(unless stated otherwise).
This 'Reading Date' may be an important
part of this 'reference', as the document (by its 'internet fluid' nature) will
be constantly changing and this may affect meaning and interpretation, for those
following up on such a reference at a later date.
Thank you for your cooperation.
TRC. eMail:
terry.couchman@visitweb.org
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