Introduction - Genius: A synonym to Innovation
What makes geniuses so absorbed and devoted to their work? Be it duty, pleasure or vanity? They are seeking something that is much more significant to them than pleasure or convenience: It is a life purpose to discover something that had previously been unknown. Nature exhibits unity in a broad range of phenomena, and inquisitive minds wish to find out the reality in which we live. Genius passes the point of passively observing: it uses past knowledge to innovate.
Genius may be expressed in a wide spectrum: It is perceived as an exceptional creative power or natural ability. It is an “extraordinary intellectual power”, or intellectual distinction.
The true meaning of genius is revealed by the word's etymology: Genius is inherited from genes as geneticists can prove. Genesis, the history of mankind, has established the pattern of survival: the most powerful genetic material may survive and prevail over others. Through genealogy, personality traits, talents, mental energy and creativity are being carried onto the next generations.
There are numerous types and levels of Genius, depending on the degree and nature of creativity, intellectual power, and social acceptance of the individual's skills.
The Making of a Genius
Scientific views and common beliefs seem incapable of establishing one single conclusion on whether genius is born, or made. Is genius inherited, does the environment affect brain's development, or combined influences of these two factors affect cerebral evolution?
A critical evaluation of these factors may shed some light to this dilemma:
A. Genius inherited: The “genius gene” theory
Geneticists of the past two decades have established numerous revolutionary theories. They examined the DNA lineage, discovered the mysteries of its formation, and identified the genes which affect our character, mentality, health and appearance.
Naturally, brain issues reserved the geneticists' undivided attention:
Research on adopted children revealed rather spectacular results: adopted children's IQs are more closely correlated to biological parents, with whom they share genes, than adoptive parents, with whom they share the environment.
The distinction between prodigy and ordinary children was tested by recent research carried out by US National Institutes of Health, by comparison of the genetic material of 200 genius kids with the DNA of ordinary children.
Following the scientific conclusions of extensive research, the forming of “Genetic engineering”, or the “genetic species improvement” was only a matter of time. Thus, future parents who wish to rectify their embryoid genetic material will participate in the “fast-forward evolution” of mankind. Issues of ethics arise: are there any side effects? Are there any boundaries between man's curiosity, and respect for Mother Nature?
Latest evidence on biological intermediaries between DNA and behaviour conclude that DNA cannot directly influence behaviour.
A team of scientists, led by psychiatric geneticists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has identified the most extensive evidence: a gene that activates signalling mechanism in the brain influences one kind of intelligence. There is a link between the gene CHRM2, and performance IQ, which involves a person's ability to organise things logically.
Danielle M. Dick, Ph.D., found that several variations within the CHRM2 gene could be correlated with slight differences in performance IQ scores, which measure a person's visual-motor coordination, logical and sequential reasoning, spatial perception and abstract problem solving skills.
.From another scientific perspective, psychologists study intelligent and innovating peoples' biographies, and research their family trees. A rather interesting case-study is the Darwin family:
Darwin's grandfather was a renowned biologist and Charles Darwin's scientific findings seem to follow his ancestor's philosophy.
Mother nature has carried over this charismatic DNA lineage to the four sons of Charles Darwin, which were brilliant, multitalented, and offered to mankind remarkable Scientific, Philosophical and Technological achievements.
B. Genius cultivated by Environment
The argument that human intelligence is mainly an issue of heredity eliminates motivation and logic for our constant need as human beings to excel and learn. Nature grants innate talents and charismas that predispose each person towards advancements in different areas. Genius does not involve predetermined achievements or behaviour. Instead, drive, dedication and hard work were the secrets of success of the most renowned scientists, like Newton, Darwin, and Einstein.
- In 1950, the pages of “Nature” introduced to the world DNA's elegant double helix, discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick
- In 1998, the first gene correlated with general cognitive ability was discovered
- In 2001 researchers uncovered the analysis of the human genome, an intriguing discovery that will occupy biomedical researchers for years to come.
High-tech and Low-tech molecular studies of identical and fraternal twins reveal that our genes are not all-determining factors in the human experience. Genes are essential to the development of the brain, and physiological synchronicity is essential to produce functioning neurons and neurotransmitters.
