Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id IAA12761 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 19 Dec 2000 08:07:13 GMT Message-ID: <A4400389479FD3118C9400508B0FF2300411A8@DELTA.newhouse.akzonobel.nl> From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Who knew genes could get mean? Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 08:47:18 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Kenneth:
And IMO that can be indeed achieved along a certain genetical way, but
some associated behavioral- characteristics can 't be explained by this, and
therefor again IMO I think it has to be in a memetical way_ that is by the
gene's "expressenal " side and therefor spatial.
Due to external circumtances ( social group, class, race, gender (?)) that
expression differs.
Derek:
In what way does culture influence a gene's expression? The main influence
on the expression of a gene is other genes. That's absolutely beyond doubt.
There are also some environmental factors that can modulate gene expression
(eg. drugs etc). I don't think there are really any cultural/memetic
factors that influence gene expression, unless of course they radically
change the organism's environment. If we can explain gene expression using
other genes and the environment, then why add memetic factors, especially
when there is no evidence for their activity on genes. Take your list for
instance:
social class/group - mostly environmental differences between classes, the
slight possibility that there are some genetic differences.
race - more in the way of genetic differences, under some circumstances big
environmental differences, in others no environmental differences.
gender - if you mean sex in the XX XY sense, then its entirely genetic, if
you mean gender choice in the sociological sense, then that's a change in
environment.
We don't 'inherit' memes from our parents until we're old enough to be
cultural entities. We aren't born with any Lamarckian memes. I mean, what
cultural activity do babies manifest? Baby behaviour is really limited to a
repertoire of reflexes designed to elicit feeding, protection, comfort etc.
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