Do Our Genes Determine Learning Ability? Research Paper

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Introduction

Advanced research findings are major determinants that assist to discover the insights of how people learn. According to Mclnerney, there are various behavioural genes that form close links to learning procedures particularly dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter associable with human behavioural responses such as reacting in accordance to pleasure or other procedures of learning (2008).

People have positive as well as negative learning differences associable to genetic differences. Some genes such as the DARPP-32 as well as DRD2 that control functioning of the dopamine in a special region of the brain called striatum are essential aspects for determining implicit influence of punishments or rewards over learning process.

The genes can assist in predicting the average or lasting effects of punishments and rewards to as opposed to individual preferences. According to Mclnerney, change of behaviour due to effects caused by a single instance of negative effect is caused by COMT gene (2008).

The gene mainly affects the conscious and thus controls the working memory for instance; one can easily change from one option to another upon remembering or relation a situation to their last experience. For example, a tourist will prefer to pay for a cottage as opposed to a tent if the last experience in a tent was horrible.

There are diverse genes that affect the leaning behaviour but in line with Mclnerney, those mentioned above assist researchers to come up with specific predictions regarding the subtle nature of human brain and affects on behaviour. Unexpected punishments or rewards therefore causes overproduction of the dopamine, while failure to deliver anticipated rewards causes the over produced genes to decline.

Researchers particularly scientists have discovered that there is increased recognition and appreciation over findings regarding effects of genetic interference on the learning process. Influences of genes over learning provide an insight that strengthens the study of interferences over learning processes.

No gene has direct influence over procedure of improving understanding or the learning process (Mclnerney, 2008). The complexity of human behaviours that influence intelligence can however be linked to involvement of multiple genes.

Attestation for existence of biological influences over learning

First, different animal species have different behaviours for instance the mating or family-relational behaviours. These aspects assist scientists in determining the close links between species. Secondly, behaviours often reproduce some aspects of truth, for instance the behaviours in different organism can be reproduced to successive generations.

Thirdly, the change of biological structures as well as functional processes during development causes change of behaviours for instance, if a person suffers brain injuries during an accident, the effects can be very diverse to a point where the prior politeness can change to aggressiveness. In families, some human behaviour can transfer from parent to an offspring for instance cases of mental illness.

Lastly, according to Mclnerney, scientists have proved that there exists a revolutionary history across closely related species (2008). Scientists indicate there is only a two percent DNA difference between human beings and the chimpanzee family (Mclnerney, 2008). These is a clear explanation to the reason why both these species have high social skills such as cooperation, altruism, nurturing abilities and expression of feeing especially facial expressions as a way of communication.

Conclusion

Learning is closely related to behavioural changes, for instance intelligence is ability to come up with solutions for existing problems. There is need to urgently study of human genes, to assist determine the emergence of human behaviours and effects of these genes on learning.

Study of heredity, which must involve close analysis of families and populations, may provide better explanations. Performed analysis already indicates that genes have great influences over learning in human beings.

Reference

Mclnerney, J. (2008, September 16). Behavioural Genetics. Web.

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IvyPanda. 2019. "Do Our Genes Determine Learning Ability?" June 30, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/genetics-and-learning/.

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