Can you name any genetic predispositions that stay with us?

[SmartAlx]

Well, I'm not sure which forum to put this in so I'll put it in the same forum of the thread that prompted the question.

In this thread Success vs genetics and in this one Thread Split from "What is your mission as a man?"
there seems to be a strong belief that genetics and natural selection do not play that big of a role in forming us into the people that we eventually become. Well, that is an arguable position. Both sides of that argument can go on all day long with examples about how they are right, so let's not bring that argument here.

I am curious though if any of you believe that there are some factors of our genetics that do stay with us our entire lives. For example, maybe a quick temper? Is a quick temper given to us by us seeing our parents lose their cool, or is it given to us by our parents genetics? Please let's not discuss the temper example too much. It's just an example and I might change it if I think of a better one. Please just stick to the main question:

Can you think of any examples at all of a genetic trait that would be difficult to change, especially one that affects our personal effectiveness or how we live our lives? (Aside from the obvious physical deformaties and mental retardation.) Are there any general character traits that stay with us? Can you name any?

Or do you believe that what happens in our lives generally changes our personality and habits so much that our genetic predispositions no longer play that big of role?

I do not plan on arguing with any of you on these matters. I'd just like to see how you all feel about it. You are entitled to your opinion and if you think one way or another I'll refrain from bringing up my disagreement with you about it.

[Brutha]

It's just a question of how deep you have to go to change things.
Even genes themselves are principly changeable via gene-therapy.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by SmartAlx

Can you think of any examples at all of a genetic trait that would be difficult to change, especially one that affects our personal effectiveness or how we live our lives? (Aside from the obvious physical deformaties and mental retardation.) Are there any general character traits that stay with us? Can you name any?

Or do you believe that what happens in our lives generally changes our personality and habits so much that our genetic predispositions no longer play that big of role?

I believe that personality may be influenced by genetics. Nevertheless whether a particular predisposition is "good" or "bad" will depend on how it is managed, and also the social or cultural context within which it is expressed.

For example, a child's genes may predispose him towards aggression and physical activity. Whether this is "good" or "bad" depends on his environment and how he is guided (or not guided) to express that predisposition. He could end up being a top-class professional boxer, or he could end up being a violent criminal (Mike Tyson, for example, has been both).

Every character trait can be described in its "good" or "bad" form. For example:

Are you gentle? Or are you weak?
Are you brave? Or are you reckless?
Are you confident? Or are you arrogant?

[Remiel]

Core personalities, Talents, and Loves.

To illustrate I joined a job which I did not love in order to get out of another job which I did not love and it didn't work for me.

Perhaps Raymond Aaron is right when he says procrasination happens when you do the things that you do not love?

[joelr]

I am predisposed to a fascination, desire and admiration of the opposite sex.

[Remiel]

Child Birth

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Remiel

Child Birth

Insanity is genetic, we get it from our children!

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by Gene

Insanity is genetic, we get it from our children!

Haha, that and grey hair too right?

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Remiel

Haha, that and grey hair too right?

Either gray hair or no hair at all. It's worth evey bit of the insanity and hair loss though, at least for me.