"People have often tended to simplify things into a linear stream of events. One of the most common is the idea that genes come first, then they create molecules, and then these molecules cause behaviors. This story about biology assumes that causation occurs in just one direction. It’s easy to grasp, and it feels compelling because we hear so much about new genetic discoveries and how genes ostensibly “cause” problems in brain and behavior. But it leaves a lot of steps out of its narrative. Moreover, claims of genetic “causation” are coming apart with overwhelming evidence for greater degrees of complexity; this encourages us to see genes not as uniquely causative but as contributory, and it supports our appreciation of the influence of other types of contributors as well."
No comments:
Post a Comment