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Running Head: ARTICLE REVIEW OF “WERE YOU BORN THAT WAY: THE NATURE VS. NURTURE CONTROVERSY”
An Article Review of
“Were You Born That Way?”
Heather Gunn
Moncton High School
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ARTICLE REVIEW OF “WERE YOU BORN THAT WAY”
Article Review of “Were You Born That Way”
George Colt writes a compelling paper about the age-old nature/nurture controversy. It
is a blend of scientific findings, interesting examples and philosophical questions for the reader
to consider. Colt states that the nature/nurture debate has been “one of the most bitter
scientific controversies of the 20th century” (1998, p.1) and goes on to examine some of the
newest findings that have “tipped the scales overwhelmingly toward nature” (1998, p.1). He
writes of scientific and genetic research, what it tells us about ourselves, how we might be able
to use it to enjoy our lives fully, and how the potential of even newer research will raise some
complicated ethical issues. A lot of the research he examines is from twin studies and
molecular biological studies. In reviewing Colt’s article, published in Life Magazine, it is
important to weigh it against what other reputable sources say about the nature / nurture
controversy and also to consider the fact that his article is now 15 years old. Despite this, I
found Colt’s article to be well written, and easy for the average reader to understand. The
examples he gives are in line with the newer studies and research in this field, and are very
interesting and exciting.
Colt begins by stating that the common belief used to be that nurture and, in particular,
parenting style and efforts, really impacted children’s growth and development, but that recent
molecular biology has uncovered a “more significant genetic component to personality than
was previously known (1998, p.1).” Then he goes on to give examples of significant findings
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that support the idea that our genes matter more than our environment. Jim Lewis and Jim
Springer are identical twins separated at birth. Their similarities are eerie – everything from
their wives’ names, their jobs, their physical appearance and illnesses. Colt says that “identical
twins raised in different families are a built-in research lab” (1998, p.2), that we can truly see
the effects of nature and nurture when we study them. He explains heritability of behaviors, to
which degree a trait is because of genes versus the environment. Twins studies have helped to
show that many traits and behaviors appear to be because of genes: religious conviction, career
choice, ADHD, pessimism, and the list goes on (1998, p.2).
Colt showcases the work that Dean Hamer does in this area. It is fascinating to learn
that Hamer is “making his way through the human genome” (1998, p.2), discovering genes
responsible for such things as obesity, anxiety, homosexuality, novelty-seeking. It’s about the
proteins that genes produce, and we are able to alter our genes, though sometimes it’s difficult
to do so (as in the case of obesity, for example).
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah
Have you noticed that I am not covering every single thing, but
that I am moving through the article, trying to explain the main
ideas in my own words, and sometimes using direct quotes, and
sometimes using references but not direct quotes. Both
require that I use the author’s name, the date published and
the page number. Let’s go back to the handout.
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The information in Colt’s article seems accurate and supported by good research. That
Life Magazine published it speaks to its credibility. He references many valid studies and the
examples he gives seem like early examples of what the more current research supports in the
discussion about nature/nurture. The University of Utah’s “Learn Genetics”series also makes
the point that nature does determine our personality, behavior and health, but that our
epigenome plays a part as well – all the “tags” we get that influence which genes are activated.
This is how our choices, our lifestyle, our nurture, influence nature. For example, the video
“Insights from Identical Twins” really makes the point that identical twins, because they are
born with the same DNA, are very similar, but that when they age and make their own
decisions, their choices can influence their DNA – that explains why there is a limit to what the
twins have in common: “Identical twins are carbon copies, yet, physically, identical twins
become increasingly different over time” (“Identical Twins”).
At the bottom of the Learn Genetics webpage it said “cite this page, so here it is: