DNA / culture ---> trivial?

From: TJ Olney (market@cc.wwu.edu)
Date: Mon Jan 08 2001 - 20:18:29 GMT

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Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 12:18:29 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time)
From: TJ Olney <market@cc.wwu.edu>
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Subject: DNA / culture ---> trivial?
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    I continually run into level of analysis issues and I see another one here.
    While it is clear that currently, DNA passes by sexual reproduction, and it
    is also clear that memes are transmitted culturally, it is not clear that
    there is no interaction between the two. It is not clear that the
    interaction between the two stops at the rather important but simple level of
    "genes must support the existence of memes". Memes may in fact allow the
    continued transmission of genes that in a non-memetic context would not
    survive.

    What of the continuing discoveries of genes that are "turned on" by
    certain environmental conditions. Memetic data can alter a persons
    behavior to avoid those environmental conditions. The DNA coding will be
    passed on, of course, but so might the memetic coding.

    Isn't this what is happening in the breast cancer world? In fact, it is
    entirely conceivable to create a DNA/meme package that ensures survival, when
    the DNA package by itself could be deadly. We tend not to completely cull
    our genetic problems, but to memetically adapt to maintain those genetic
    problems in the gene pool.

    I'm afraid I can't agree that the DNA / culture distinction is trivial.
    Anytime the DNA protein encoding fosters but does not guarantee certain
    physical developments, there is the possibility of memetic/genetic or
    culture/DNA interactions. Again, I refer you to identical twin studies to
    look at some of these fascinating interactions.

    TJ Olney

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