A genetic predisposition is a genetic effect which influences the phenotype of an organism but which can be modified by the environmental conditions. Genetic testing is able to identify individuals who are genetically predisposed to certain health problems. Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... The phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution, or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size or eye color, that varies between individuals. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Genetic testing allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and can also be used to determine a persons ancestry. ... A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ...

Behavior

Behaviors displayed by animals can be influenced by genetic predispositions. Genetic predisposition towards certain human behaviors is scientifically investigated by attempts to identify patterns of human behavior that seem to be invariant over long periods of time and in very different cultures. For example, philosopher Daniel Dennett has proposed that humans are genetically predisposed to have a Theory of mind because there has been evolutionary selection for the human ability to adopt the Intentional stance^[1]. The intentional stance is a useful behavioral strategy by which humans assume that others have minds like their own. This assumption allows you to predict the behavior of others based on personal knowledge of what you would do. Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour (particularly of social animals such as primates and canids), and is a branch of zoology. ... Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour considered as a branch of zoology. ... Daniel Dennett Daniel Clement Dennett (born March 28, 1942) is a prominent American philosopher. ... The phrase theory of mind can be used in several ways. ... Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution by natural selection. ... As espoused by Daniel Dennett in his book: Here is how it works: first you decide to treat the object whose behavior is to be predicted as a rational agent; then you figure out what beliefs that agent ought to have, given its place in the world and its purpose. ... The mind is the term most commonly used to describe the higher functions of the human brain, particularly those of which humans are subjectively conscious, such as personality, thought, reason, memory, intelligence and emotion. ...

Powerful evidence for genetic predispositions towards certain patterns of human behavior comes from Twin studies. The idea that human behavior can have a genetic basis has become controversial due to religious and politically-inspired positions with respect to common human behaviors such as homosexuality. Twin study - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Since its coining, the term homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ...

Genetic discrimination in health insurance

In the United States individuals are at risk for loss of health insurance if they are discovered to have genetic predispositions for health problems. The National Center for Genome Resources found that 85 percent of those polled think employers should not have access to information about their employees' genetic conditions, risks or predispositions^[2]. The U.S. federal government has so far taken only limited measures against discrimination based on genetic testing^[3]. Health insurance is a type of insurance whereby the insurer pays the medical costs of the insured if the insured becomes sick due to covered causes, or due to accidents. ...

References

1. ^  The results of this survey are discussed here (January 20, 1998).
2. ^  A summary of U.S.A. executive orders and proposed legislation is compiled by the National Center for Genome Resources.
3. ^  The Intentional Stance (MIT Press; Reprint edition 1989) (ISBN 0262540533)

1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Human nature.
• E. O. Wilson's book on sociobiology and his book Consilience discuss the idea of genetic predisposition to behaviors.
• The field of evolutionary psychology explores the idea that certain behaviors have been selected for during the course of evolution.
• The nature vs nurture debate.
• Behavioral genetics.

Human nature is the fundamental nature and substance of humans, as well as the range of human behavior that is believed to be invariant over long periods of time and across very different cultural contexts. ... E.O. Wilson with Dynastes hercules E. O. Wilson, or Edward Osborne Wilson, (born June 10, 1929) is an entomologist and biologist known for his work on ecology, evolution, and sociobiology. ... Sociobiology is a synthesis of scientific disciplines that attempts to explain behaviour in all species by considering the evolutionary advantages of social behaviours. ... Consilience, or the unity of knowledge (literally a jumping together of knowledge), has its roots in the ancient Greek concept of an intrinsic orderliness that governs our cosmos, inherently comprehensible by logical process, a vision at odds with mystical views in many cultures that surrounded the Hellenes. ... Evolutionary psychology (or EP) proposes that human and primate cognition and behavior can be better understood in light of human and primate evolutionary history. ... This article needs cleanup, so as to conform to a higher standard. ... Behavioural genetics (behavioral genetics) is the field of biology that studies the role of genetics in animal behaviour. ...

External links

• Genetic discrimination fact sheet from the National Human Genome Research Institute.