Genetic Effect

Are we defined by our genes or our environments?

4.3 (40)

45 mins

Discover the complex interplay between genetics and environment in shaping mental health and behavior. Explore how epigenetics reveals that our experiences can modify gene expression, leading to varied health outcomes even among identical twins. Examine the elusive quest to pinpoint genetic causes of mental illnesses.

Ep 1:

The Rectangle That Lied to Us

Donald Hebb's clever rectangle analogy hides a dangerous myth—genes and environment aren't separate dimensions, and misunderstanding this warps politics, policy, and how we see ourselves.

Ep 2:

Twins, Determinism, and the Myth of Choice

Eerie twin studies reveal genetics' hidden grip on identity, while a startling truth about parents, peers, and free will forces us to rethink what determinism really means.

Ep 3:

Written in Flesh: Epigenetics and Human Tragedy

A rat mother's licking rewrites her pup's DNA for life, revealing epigenetics' astonishing power—and exposing an unavoidable tragedy hardwired into human relationships and love.

Ep 4:

The Behavior Paradox Nobody Talks About

Fifty years after the cognitive revolution, we're still asking the wrong question about behavior—this episode exposes the sloppy science behind 'genes vs. environment' debates.

Ep 5:

The Sneezing-in-Elevators Mystery

From schizophrenia's genetic fingerprints to the uncanny quirks shared by separated twins, discover why there's no single gene for anything—yet genes shape nearly everything.

Ep 6:

The Fingerprint Paradox of Human Nature

Why do all humans share the same organs and minds despite radical genetic uniqueness? An evolutionary paradox reveals the hidden purpose of your genetic differences.

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