Literature Week 1 - Nature vs. Nurture

What makes you, you?

What is more important in deciding who you are? 

Is most of who you are already decided by your DNA? 

Or are you a blank slate at birth and only become who you are now because of outside influences?

While watching this video, make notes on the following topics:

1. What do “Nature” and “Nurture” mean in this context?

2. What does Epigenetics mean?

3. Does the example with the rats conclude that nurture is more influential than nature? Why or why not?

4. What does the video conclude about the question: “What makes us, us?”

Copy these questions in your notebook.

01:44

Now that you know what nature and nurture are, which one do you think has the most influence on who you are?

Nature

Nurture

Both equally

Both but not equally

Other

03:04

Did the rat example change your mind on what's more important?

Nature rules

Nurture wins

Both equally

Both but not equally

Other (there must be a catch here)

04:41

So what does this video conclude about the question: what makes us, us?

In this video you'll hear a scientist explain the difference between nature and nurture and her view on the age old debate about which one has more impact on you as a person. 

While watching the video you'll answer a couple of questions. 

If you don't have headphones with you, you'll do this assignment at home and work on the writing practice first. 

1. Did you hear about any of the facts about genes the speaker mentions in her introduction? Were you surprised by any of them?

2. Why would people find it comforting that some things are determined by DNA according to the speaker?

3. What purpose does the example of Huntington’s disease serve?

4. What happens when adult animals drink milk? What about humans?

5. Does where you live determine whether you are lactose intolerant? Why or why not?

6. What does the speaker say about the “vs.” in “nature vs. nurture”? Why does she say this?

01:03

Did you know about any of these facts about genes?

I knew none of them.

I knew one of them.

I knew two of them.

I knew all of them.

01:42

Why might people find it "comfortable" that some things are determined by DNA?

04:27

What purpose do the examples of Huntington's disease and cancer serve?

1. To show that only a small mistake in a single gene has big consequences.
2. To show that nature is more influential than nurture.
3. To show that nurture can overcome nature.
4. To show that not everything is decided by your genes.

07:35

What happens to adult animals when they drink milk? What about adult humans?

09:32

Does where you live determine whether you are lactose intolerant? Why or why not?

13:48

What does the speaker conclude about nature "vs" nurture?