[Applause] I’m here today to talk to you guys about
I’m here today to talk to you guys about
I’m here today to talk to you guys about jeans and when I say jeans I don’t mean
jeans and when I say jeans I don’t mean
jeans and when I say jeans I don’t mean that I don’t mean the jeans you’re
that I don’t mean the jeans you’re
that I don’t mean the jeans you’re wearing but rather the jeans you’re
wearing but rather the jeans you’re
wearing but rather the jeans you’re carrying your DNA so to start off I
carrying your DNA so to start off I
carrying your DNA so to start off I thought we’d talk really quickly about
thought we’d talk really quickly about
thought we’d talk really quickly about some things you might have heard about
some things you might have heard about
some things you might have heard about your jeans that you’re wondering about
your jeans that you’re wondering about
your jeans that you’re wondering about first of all you might have heard that
first of all you might have heard that
first of all you might have heard that you share 99% of them with chimpanzees
you share 99% of them with chimpanzees
you share 99% of them with chimpanzees which are closest living relative and
which are closest living relative and
which are closest living relative and that is absolutely true you might have
that is absolutely true you might have
that is absolutely true you might have also heard that there is less DNA in you
also heard that there is less DNA in you
also heard that there is less DNA in you in each of your cells then there is an
in each of your cells then there is an
in each of your cells then there is an in those of a humble onion and that is
in those of a humble onion and that is
in those of a humble onion and that is also true
also true
also true and lastly who amongst you hasn’t heard
and lastly who amongst you hasn’t heard
and lastly who amongst you hasn’t heard on TV or read on Facebook or on any
on TV or read on Facebook or on any
on TV or read on Facebook or on any other sources that scientists have
other sources that scientists have
other sources that scientists have discovered the gene for things like
discovered the gene for things like
discovered the gene for things like crime or maybe autism or cancer or
crime or maybe autism or cancer or
crime or maybe autism or cancer or beauty or attraction or really any other
beauty or attraction or really any other
beauty or attraction or really any other number of traits
number of traits
number of traits well I’m gonna tell you something and
well I’m gonna tell you something and
well I’m gonna tell you something and that’s something is that that is wrong
that’s something is that that is wrong
that’s something is that that is wrong and I’m gonna tell you why
and I’m gonna tell you why
and I’m gonna tell you why so these days it’s really really
so these days it’s really really
so these days it’s really really fashionable to attribute all kinds of
fashionable to attribute all kinds of
fashionable to attribute all kinds of phenomenal powers to our DNA so the
phenomenal powers to our DNA so the
phenomenal powers to our DNA so the degree that you might start to wonder if
degree that you might start to wonder if
degree that you might start to wonder if there’s really any reason in trying to
there’s really any reason in trying to
there’s really any reason in trying to fight your genetic testing what makes
fight your genetic testing what makes
fight your genetic testing what makes you you and makes me me is the argument
you you and makes me me is the argument
you you and makes me me is the argument goes innate it’s something you’re born
goes innate it’s something you’re born
goes innate it’s something you’re born with it’s your DNA and you know some of
with it’s your DNA and you know some of
with it’s your DNA and you know some of you might actually find that comforting
you might actually find that comforting
you might actually find that comforting because if you’re destined to gain
because if you’re destined to gain
because if you’re destined to gain weight no matter what then you might as
weight no matter what then you might as
weight no matter what then you might as well enjoy yourself at lunch and stop
well enjoy yourself at lunch and stop
well enjoy yourself at lunch and stop feeling guilty about it you know why try
feeling guilty about it you know why try
feeling guilty about it you know why try to fight this everybody knows you can’t
to fight this everybody knows you can’t
to fight this everybody knows you can’t actually win against your DNA but is
actually win against your DNA but is
actually win against your DNA but is that really true you know is your DNA
that really true you know is your DNA
that really true you know is your DNA really all that powerful and this is a
really all that powerful and this is a
really all that powerful and this is a question you might have asked yourself
question you might have asked yourself
question you might have asked yourself before and it’s indeed a question you
before and it’s indeed a question you
before and it’s indeed a question you might have heard of before because it
might have heard of before because it
might have heard of before because it has been referred to for a long time as
has been referred to for a long time as
has been referred to for a long time as the question of nature versus nurture
the question of nature versus nurture
the question of nature versus nurture okay so sometimes it’s very true that
okay so sometimes it’s very true that
okay so sometimes it’s very true that there is nothing you can do against your
there is nothing you can do against your
there is nothing you can do against your DNA and let me give you a pretty
DNA and let me give you a pretty
DNA and let me give you a pretty sobering example and instead of
sobering example and instead of
sobering example and instead of Huntington’s disease it is a terrible
Huntington’s disease it is a terrible
Huntington’s disease it is a terrible terrible disease
terrible disease
terrible disease one in which the cells in your brain
one in which the cells in your brain
one in which the cells in your brain become down
become down
become down and slowly die and so you will rapidly
and slowly die and so you will rapidly
and slowly die and so you will rapidly lose your ability to control both their
lose your ability to control both their
lose your ability to control both their body on your mind and there’s a cease
body on your mind and there’s a cease
body on your mind and there’s a cease for which there is endure treatment nor
for which there is endure treatment nor
for which there is endure treatment nor cure it is also a fully genetic disease
cure it is also a fully genetic disease
cure it is also a fully genetic disease all it takes is a single damaged copy of
all it takes is a single damaged copy of
all it takes is a single damaged copy of a single gene if you have that copy you
a single gene if you have that copy you
a single gene if you have that copy you will get the disease it is unavoidable
will get the disease it is unavoidable
will get the disease it is unavoidable but not all diseases and not all traits
but not all diseases and not all traits
but not all diseases and not all traits in fact behave like this just because
in fact behave like this just because
in fact behave like this just because one of your parents had cancer does not
one of your parents had cancer does not
one of your parents had cancer does not mean that you two necessarily will have
mean that you two necessarily will have
mean that you two necessarily will have cancer even though you inherited half of
cancer even though you inherited half of
cancer even though you inherited half of your DNA from that parent and the same
your DNA from that parent and the same
your DNA from that parent and the same is true in fact of many traits traits
is true in fact of many traits traits
is true in fact of many traits traits like height and weight and even
like height and weight and even
like height and weight and even intelligence and also of complex
intelligence and also of complex
intelligence and also of complex diseases of things like diabetes or
diseases of things like diabetes or
diseases of things like diabetes or heart disease for instance you could be
heart disease for instance you could be
heart disease for instance you could be the child of the tallest two people on
the child of the tallest two people on
the child of the tallest two people on earth but if you were malnourished as an
earth but if you were malnourished as an
earth but if you were malnourished as an infant it is extremely unlikely that you
infant it is extremely unlikely that you
infant it is extremely unlikely that you will be as tall as they are so sometimes
will be as tall as they are so sometimes
will be as tall as they are so sometimes your life experiences Trump your genes
your life experiences Trump your genes
your life experiences Trump your genes nice and easy
nice and easy
nice and easy sometimes nurture wins and in fact if
sometimes nurture wins and in fact if
sometimes nurture wins and in fact if you look back fifty years a hundred
you look back fifty years a hundred
you look back fifty years a hundred years ago you’ll find that most
years ago you’ll find that most
years ago you’ll find that most philosophers strongly denied that nature
philosophers strongly denied that nature
philosophers strongly denied that nature had any role in shaping humans the only
had any role in shaping humans the only
had any role in shaping humans the only thing that mattered was nurture the only
thing that mattered was nurture the only
thing that mattered was nurture the only thing that matter was experience nothing
thing that matter was experience nothing
thing that matter was experience nothing about humans was innate now both of
about humans was innate now both of
about humans was innate now both of those positions are actually rather
those positions are actually rather
those positions are actually rather extreme if you stop to think about it
extreme if you stop to think about it
extreme if you stop to think about it for a second you’ll realize that
for a second you’ll realize that
for a second you’ll realize that sometimes when nature and nurture when
sometimes when nature and nurture when
sometimes when nature and nurture when DNA and experience fight the winner is
DNA and experience fight the winner is
DNA and experience fight the winner is really easy to predict for instance you
really easy to predict for instance you
really easy to predict for instance you can wish all you want for six fingers if
can wish all you want for six fingers if
can wish all you want for six fingers if you are not born with six fingers you
you are not born with six fingers you
you are not born with six fingers you will never have them I’m really sorry to
will never have them I’m really sorry to
will never have them I’m really sorry to disappoint you on the other hand just
disappoint you on the other hand just
disappoint you on the other hand just because you cannot speak German today
because you cannot speak German today
because you cannot speak German today there is nothing in your DNA at all that
there is nothing in your DNA at all that
there is nothing in your DNA at all that says that you cannot learn it if you
says that you cannot learn it if you
says that you cannot learn it if you start studying it tomorrow
start studying it tomorrow
start studying it tomorrow so yes sometimes the questions can are
so yes sometimes the questions can are
so yes sometimes the questions can are easy to answer sometimes those are
easy to answer sometimes those are
easy to answer sometimes those are simple answers but simple answers are
simple answers but simple answers are
simple answers but simple answers are though they are really really tempting
though they are really really tempting
though they are really really tempting or most of the time not right
or most of the time not right
or most of the time not right and in fact complex problems are far
and in fact complex problems are far
and in fact complex problems are far more common and to me far more
more common and to me far more
more common and to me far more interesting than simple ones so I want
interesting than simple ones so I want
interesting than simple ones so I want to tell you a story about my doctoral
to tell you a story about my doctoral
to tell you a story about my doctoral work so when I was a graduate student
work so when I was a graduate student
work so when I was a graduate student I’m a human evolutionary geneticist and
I’m a human evolutionary geneticist and
I’m a human evolutionary geneticist and what that means is like that I’m really
what that means is like that I’m really
what that means is like that I’m really interested in something what bits of our
interested in something what bits of our
interested in something what bits of our DNA make us human and that it and how
DNA make us human and that it and how
DNA make us human and that it and how they do so and when I was a graduate
they do so and when I was a graduate
they do so and when I was a graduate student I focused on this bit of DNA
student I focused on this bit of DNA
student I focused on this bit of DNA here and why this one well it’s clearly
here and why this one well it’s clearly
here and why this one well it’s clearly not very obvious from the sequence and
not very obvious from the sequence and
not very obvious from the sequence and in fact the reason is something you
in fact the reason is something you
in fact the reason is something you might not expect at all because the
might not expect at all because the
might not expect at all because the reason is milk that’s right
reason is milk that’s right
reason is milk that’s right milk so milk is a really complex
milk so milk is a really complex
milk so milk is a really complex substance it contains all kinds of
substance it contains all kinds of
substance it contains all kinds of things but the one I’m really interested
things but the one I’m really interested
things but the one I’m really interested in is this molecule here called lactose
in is this molecule here called lactose
in is this molecule here called lactose lactose is a sugar just like the glucose
lactose is a sugar just like the glucose
lactose is a sugar just like the glucose that your doctor tells you and your
that your doctor tells you and your
that your doctor tells you and your parents and your grandparents to keep an
parents and your grandparents to keep an
parents and your grandparents to keep an eye out so you don’t get diabetes or
eye out so you don’t get diabetes or
eye out so you don’t get diabetes or like the fructose that makes fruits
like the fructose that makes fruits
like the fructose that makes fruits taste sweet but lactose has phone almost
taste sweet but lactose has phone almost
taste sweet but lactose has phone almost exclusively in milk when you drink milk
exclusively in milk when you drink milk
exclusively in milk when you drink milk it makes its way down your gut into your
it makes its way down your gut into your
it makes its way down your gut into your stomach
stomach
stomach where your body recognizes it breaks it
where your body recognizes it breaks it
where your body recognizes it breaks it down and uses it to make energy to fuel
down and uses it to make energy to fuel
down and uses it to make energy to fuel itself and you might remember from
itself and you might remember from
itself and you might remember from school that our mammals from seals to
school that our mammals from seals to
school that our mammals from seals to pigs to lions they all make milk to feed
pigs to lions they all make milk to feed
pigs to lions they all make milk to feed their babies and in fact baby sheep baby
their babies and in fact baby sheep baby
their babies and in fact baby sheep baby gorillas baby sea otters they all rely
gorillas baby sea otters they all rely
gorillas baby sea otters they all rely on their mothers to nourish them with
on their mothers to nourish them with
on their mothers to nourish them with milk at the beginning of life but
milk at the beginning of life but
milk at the beginning of life but something happens to all of these
something happens to all of these
something happens to all of these adorable animals when they grow up under
adorable animals when they grow up under
adorable animals when they grow up under you and that is that they lose the
you and that is that they lose the
you and that is that they lose the ability to digest lactose they can no
ability to digest lactose they can no
ability to digest lactose they can no longer break it down even kittens so you
longer break it down even kittens so you
longer break it down even kittens so you can feed an adorable kitten a saucer of
can feed an adorable kitten a saucer of
can feed an adorable kitten a saucer of milk he will of course drink it and lap
milk he will of course drink it and lap
milk he will of course drink it and lap it up and he will be the happiest kid
it up and he will be the happiest kid
it up and he will be the happiest kid thing you’ve ever seen probably but if
thing you’ve ever seen probably but if
thing you’ve ever seen probably but if you feel a grown car a saucer of milk he
you feel a grown car a saucer of milk he
you feel a grown car a saucer of milk he might drink it yes in fact I can tell
might drink it yes in fact I can tell
might drink it yes in fact I can tell you they will drink it but believe me
you they will drink it but believe me
you they will drink it but believe me when I tell you they’re not digesting
when I tell you they’re not digesting
when I tell you they’re not digesting that lactose they are not breaking it
that lactose they are not breaking it
that lactose they are not breaking it down I have cats at home so again
down I have cats at home so again
down I have cats at home so again believe me when I tell you that I have
believe me when I tell you that I have
believe me when I tell you that I have seen and I have smelled and I have
seen and I have smelled and I have
seen and I have smelled and I have cleaned up proof
cleaned up proof
cleaned up proof the fact that they are not digesting the
the fact that they are not digesting the
the fact that they are not digesting the lactose the only exception to this is
lactose the only exception to this is
lactose the only exception to this is some but this is extremely important not
some but this is extremely important not
some but this is extremely important not all humans so I am NOT a child I hope
all humans so I am NOT a child I hope
all humans so I am NOT a child I hope you will agree although I can on the
you will agree although I can on the
you will agree although I can on the less digest lactose very comfortably but
less digest lactose very comfortably but
less digest lactose very comfortably but because we are in Singapore I feel
because we are in Singapore I feel
because we are in Singapore I feel really comfortable saying that the vast
really comfortable saying that the vast
really comfortable saying that the vast majority of you in this audience could
majority of you in this audience could
majority of you in this audience could not go home right now drink a pint of
not go home right now drink a pint of
not go home right now drink a pint of milk and not feel terrible for a while
milk and not feel terrible for a while
milk and not feel terrible for a while that’s it if you don’t believe me if you
that’s it if you don’t believe me if you
that’s it if you don’t believe me if you haven’t done this experiment please by
haven’t done this experiment please by
haven’t done this experiment please by all means do it but don’t just drink oh
all means do it but don’t just drink oh
all means do it but don’t just drink oh you know a little sip of milk or a
you know a little sip of milk or a
you know a little sip of milk or a little pod of yogurt no no no no I want
little pod of yogurt no no no no I want
little pod of yogurt no no no no I want you to go home and pour yourself a nice
you to go home and pour yourself a nice
you to go home and pour yourself a nice tall glass of just plain cold milk nice
tall glass of just plain cold milk nice
tall glass of just plain cold milk nice and full of lactose and my guess is that
and full of lactose and my guess is that
and full of lactose and my guess is that you’re all gonna end up pretty annoyed
you’re all gonna end up pretty annoyed
you’re all gonna end up pretty annoyed at me for having talked you into doing
at me for having talked you into doing
at me for having talked you into doing that but you know how do I know this I
that but you know how do I know this I
that but you know how do I know this I mean my job is not actually to go around
mean my job is not actually to go around
mean my job is not actually to go around and ask animals how much they like milk
and ask animals how much they like milk
and ask animals how much they like milk and I don’t know any of you so I really
and I don’t know any of you so I really
and I don’t know any of you so I really don’t know if you like milk but how so
don’t know if you like milk but how so
don’t know if you like milk but how so how am I so comfortable in my guess well
how am I so comfortable in my guess well
how am I so comfortable in my guess well the answer is really simple
the answer is really simple
the answer is really simple it’s that bit of DNA that I showed you
it’s that bit of DNA that I showed you
it’s that bit of DNA that I showed you in fact it’s that little see the one in
in fact it’s that little see the one in
in fact it’s that little see the one in red there that is something that I have
red there that is something that I have
red there that is something that I have that most of you don’t and that’s
that most of you don’t and that’s
that most of you don’t and that’s because it’s from primarily in people of
because it’s from primarily in people of
because it’s from primarily in people of European descent you can see here in
European descent you can see here in
European descent you can see here in this map which I took from some
this map which I took from some
this map which I took from some colleagues new bunny telling his friends
colleagues new bunny telling his friends
colleagues new bunny telling his friends where that little sea is most common in
where that little sea is most common in
where that little sea is most common in popular in places like Britain and
popular in places like Britain and
popular in places like Britain and Northern Europe and where it is least
Northern Europe and where it is least
Northern Europe and where it is least common in the world which is pretty much
common in the world which is pretty much
common in the world which is pretty much anywhere in blue you can also see that
anywhere in blue you can also see that
anywhere in blue you can also see that it’s pretty much unseen east of India
it’s pretty much unseen east of India
it’s pretty much unseen east of India which is the region I studied as a PhD
which is the region I studied as a PhD
which is the region I studied as a PhD student that single see that tiny little
student that single see that tiny little
student that single see that tiny little change gives me the ability to digest
change gives me the ability to digest
change gives me the ability to digest digest lactose as an adult so on the
digest lactose as an adult so on the
digest lactose as an adult so on the surface that would seem like a really
surface that would seem like a really
surface that would seem like a really clear case for lactose or DNA winning
clear case for lactose or DNA winning
clear case for lactose or DNA winning everything for DNA beating nurture again
everything for DNA beating nurture again
everything for DNA beating nurture again right I mean a single difference and I
right I mean a single difference and I
right I mean a single difference and I can do something you cannot you have
can do something you cannot you have
can do something you cannot you have them so I have the mutation I can digest
them so I have the mutation I can digest
them so I have the mutation I can digest lactose you don’t have it
lactose you don’t have it
lactose you don’t have it you feel sick he’s closed right I mean
you feel sick he’s closed right I mean
you feel sick he’s closed right I mean purely but actually let’s take a step
purely but actually let’s take a step
purely but actually let’s take a step back because there is one thing missing
back because there is one thing missing
back because there is one thing missing from this story that’s the milk where
from this story that’s the milk where
from this story that’s the milk where does the milk come from you know that
does the milk come from you know that
does the milk come from you know that bit is certainly not encoded by that
bit is certainly not encoded by that
bit is certainly not encoded by that little C so the truth is yes I have a
little C so the truth is yes I have a
little C so the truth is yes I have a mutation in my DNA that lets me digest
mutation in my DNA that lets me digest
mutation in my DNA that lets me digest lactose if I don’t have access to cows
lactose if I don’t have access to cows
lactose if I don’t have access to cows or to goat or to sheep or to camels or
or to goat or to sheep or to camels or
or to goat or to sheep or to camels or to any other animal we can milk that
to any other animal we can milk that
to any other animal we can milk that mutation is totally pointless being able
mutation is totally pointless being able
mutation is totally pointless being able to digest milk is a totally pointless
to digest milk is a totally pointless
to digest milk is a totally pointless ability if you have no access to milk
ability if you have no access to milk
ability if you have no access to milk so maybe DNA is actually not that mighty
so maybe DNA is actually not that mighty
so maybe DNA is actually not that mighty and let me give you another example this
and let me give you another example this
and let me give you another example this one is a bit more somber but I think
one is a bit more somber but I think
one is a bit more somber but I think you’ll see what I’m what I mean
you’ll see what I’m what I mean
you’ll see what I’m what I mean so here on this figure you can see on
so here on this figure you can see on
so here on this figure you can see on this graph you can see how common it was
this graph you can see how common it was
this graph you can see how common it was for American men to die of different
for American men to die of different
for American men to die of different types of cancer at different times in
types of cancer at different times in
types of cancer at different times in the 20th century and I took this from a
the 20th century and I took this from a
the 20th century and I took this from a study from the Cleveland Clinic in the
study from the Cleveland Clinic in the
study from the Cleveland Clinic in the u.s. so the stats are for you u.s. men
u.s. so the stats are for you u.s. men
u.s. so the stats are for you u.s. men as you can see most of the 20th century
as you can see most of the 20th century
as you can see most of the 20th century the most common form of cancer has been
the most common form of cancer has been
the most common form of cancer has been lung cancer which is the one that I’m
lung cancer which is the one that I’m
lung cancer which is the one that I’m pointing to with a big red arrow over
pointing to with a big red arrow over
pointing to with a big red arrow over there right now
cancer is a disease that is caused
cancer is a disease that is caused fundamentally by damage to your DNA that
fundamentally by damage to your DNA that
fundamentally by damage to your DNA that damages your body’s abilities to control
damages your body’s abilities to control
damages your body’s abilities to control when and where your cells divide so in a
when and where your cells divide so in a
when and where your cells divide so in a sense cancer is caused by your DNA so
sense cancer is caused by your DNA so
sense cancer is caused by your DNA so here we are again DNA genetic destiny
here we are again DNA genetic destiny
here we are again DNA genetic destiny but actually is that really true because
but actually is that really true because
but actually is that really true because we all know that there is a recent
we all know that there is a recent
we all know that there is a recent cancer has become so common in the past
cancer has become so common in the past
cancer has become so common in the past 50 60 70 years and it’s got nothing at
50 60 70 years and it’s got nothing at
50 60 70 years and it’s got nothing at all to do with DNA what I’m talking
all to do with DNA what I’m talking
all to do with DNA what I’m talking about of course is the rise of smoking
about of course is the rise of smoking
about of course is the rise of smoking in fact if you look at the figure you’ll
in fact if you look at the figure you’ll
in fact if you look at the figure you’ll see that lung cancer was pretty uncommon
see that lung cancer was pretty uncommon
see that lung cancer was pretty uncommon in the u.s. until cigarettes became
in the u.s. until cigarettes became
in the u.s. until cigarettes became widespread and while not everybody who
widespread and while not everybody who
widespread and while not everybody who smokes
smokes
smokes will get lung cancer and not everybody
will get lung cancer and not everybody
will get lung cancer and not everybody who gets lung cancer is a smoker the
who gets lung cancer is a smoker the
who gets lung cancer is a smoker the fact remains that smoking dramatically
fact remains that smoking dramatically
fact remains that smoking dramatically damages the cells in your lungs and that
damages the cells in your lungs and that
damages the cells in your lungs and that in turn dramatically increases your
in turn dramatically increases your
in turn dramatically increases your chance
chance
chance of getting cancer so then what causes
of getting cancer so then what causes
of getting cancer so then what causes lung cancer is it nature is it DNA I
lung cancer is it nature is it DNA I
lung cancer is it nature is it DNA I mean if we damage DNA we get cancer
mean if we damage DNA we get cancer
mean if we damage DNA we get cancer maybe it’s actually nurture I mean
maybe it’s actually nurture I mean
maybe it’s actually nurture I mean without smoking without damage to your
without smoking without damage to your
without smoking without damage to your genes there is no cancer so if you don’t
genes there is no cancer so if you don’t
genes there is no cancer so if you don’t smoke you don’t damage your genes you
smoke you don’t damage your genes you
smoke you don’t damage your genes you don’t get cancer
don’t get cancer
don’t get cancer so perhaps you see though where I’m
so perhaps you see though where I’m
so perhaps you see though where I’m going with this because my question to
going with this because my question to
going with this because my question to you today is actually well does this
you today is actually well does this
you today is actually well does this really have to be a fight do we really
really have to be a fight do we really
really have to be a fight do we really need to think of this as nature versus
need to think of this as nature versus
need to think of this as nature versus nurture nature or nurture I think it’s
nurture nature or nurture I think it’s
nurture nature or nurture I think it’s really really clear that actually it’s
really really clear that actually it’s
really really clear that actually it’s nature and nurture because the truth is
nature and nurture because the truth is
nature and nurture because the truth is that yes you have genes we all have
that yes you have genes we all have
that yes you have genes we all have genes and these genes do all kinds of
genes and these genes do all kinds of
genes and these genes do all kinds of things right but if you look at a single
things right but if you look at a single
things right but if you look at a single gene what it tends to do tends to be
gene what it tends to do tends to be
gene what it tends to do tends to be pretty small a single gene might do
pretty small a single gene might do
pretty small a single gene might do something like make a protein that
something like make a protein that
something like make a protein that breaks down lactose and in isolation
breaks down lactose and in isolation
breaks down lactose and in isolation that’s not really striking you might say
that’s not really striking you might say
that’s not really striking you might say to yourself that’s a fair criticism but
to yourself that’s a fair criticism but
to yourself that’s a fair criticism but the beauty of the system is that genes
the beauty of the system is that genes
the beauty of the system is that genes respond to each other a gene can react
respond to each other a gene can react
respond to each other a gene can react to the product of another gene but even
to the product of another gene but even
to the product of another gene but even more striking is the fact that genes not
more striking is the fact that genes not
more striking is the fact that genes not only respond to each other they respond
only respond to each other they respond
only respond to each other they respond to other things as well they respond to
to other things as well they respond to
to other things as well they respond to the environment in which you live they
the environment in which you live they
the environment in which you live they respond to the food you eat they respond
respond to the food you eat they respond
respond to the food you eat they respond to the decisions you make well it’s
to the decisions you make well it’s
to the decisions you make well it’s really really tempting to have a simple
really really tempting to have a simple
really really tempting to have a simple answer to have some yes or no nature or
answer to have some yes or no nature or
answer to have some yes or no nature or nurture
nurture
nurture you might also even want someone to
you might also even want someone to
you might also even want someone to blame in some situations the truces life
blame in some situations the truces life
blame in some situations the truces life is quite messy that’s not how life works
is quite messy that’s not how life works
is quite messy that’s not how life works life is really complicated so the next
life is really complicated so the next
life is really complicated so the next time you see science you see a newspaper
time you see science you see a newspaper
time you see science you see a newspaper headline that says Oh scientists have
headline that says Oh scientists have
headline that says Oh scientists have discovered the gene for cancer again
discovered the gene for cancer again
discovered the gene for cancer again please keep in mind that what that
please keep in mind that what that
please keep in mind that what that article really means is that scientists
article really means is that scientists
article really means is that scientists have discovered a gene for cancer that
have discovered a gene for cancer that
have discovered a gene for cancer that is associated perhaps with higher
is associated perhaps with higher
is associated perhaps with higher likelihood or even less likelihood of
likelihood or even less likelihood of
likelihood or even less likelihood of getting cancer in a given environment
getting cancer in a given environment
getting cancer in a given environment because the truth is there is no single
because the truth is there is no single
because the truth is there is no single gene for cancer there are many genes
gene for cancer there are many genes
gene for cancer there are many genes always many genes that control yes your
always many genes that control yes your
always many genes that control yes your likelihood of getting cancer but also
likelihood of getting cancer but also
likelihood of getting cancer but also things like your height your weight the
things like your height your weight the
things like your height your weight the shape of your face the color of your
shape of your face the color of your
shape of your face the color of your skin even the lightly
skin even the lightly
skin even the lightly of you suffering from major depression
of you suffering from major depression
of you suffering from major depression at some point in your life okay but
at some point in your life okay but
at some point in your life okay but without the wrong environment likelihood
without the wrong environment likelihood
without the wrong environment likelihood and chances is all they will ever be and
and chances is all they will ever be and
and chances is all they will ever be and so I want to leave you with this final
so I want to leave you with this final
so I want to leave you with this final thought despite what you might have
thought despite what you might have
thought despite what you might have heard before you are not the
heard before you are not the
heard before you are not the battleground upon which nature and
battleground upon which nature and
battleground upon which nature and nurture fight no no no absolutely not
nurture fight no no no absolutely not
nurture fight no no no absolutely not you are the canvas upon which they
you are the canvas upon which they
you are the canvas upon which they collaborate you are the product of their
collaborate you are the product of their
collaborate you are the product of their interactions
interactions
interactions [Applause]
”
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