Re: Genetics of Depression » bob

Posted by IsoM on January 15, 2002, at 17:50:44

In reply to Re: Family History of Depression » IsoM, posted by bob on January 15, 2002, at 14:48:46

Bob, I agree with you but...
If anyone has studied even a little on genetics & how characteristics are passed on from one generation to another & ALL the extra possibilities of genetic drift, crossing over & gene recombination, & whether characteristics are sex-linked or not, will know how convulated it can get. New characteristics can pop up all the time that wasn't even part of the genetic make-up of previous generations.
I think if we were to try & eliminate the bad traits by these people not reproducing (which I'm NOT suggesting you said), we'd lose so many of our geniuses. Lord Tennyson had a strong history of bipolar distorder in running in his family. Just doing a search on Google for creative, highly intelligent people would show many with disorders & depression.
I'm not saying that creative genius is linked with depression, just that along with the 'bad' genes are many that are very, very good. At this point, I think we have to accept the bad with the good, unfortunately.
Altruism is one of our best characteristics. No social animal can grow without this quality. Maybe if we were like Tasmanian devils, weasels, or shrews we wouldn't need it but then civilisation would never have developed. :)

>
> > Sometimes I think we're unconsciously drawn to marry others similar to us with problems, accentuating it for the next generations.
>
> Unfortunately for humans, it seems as though despite this possibly being genetic "vulnerabilities", it often (or even mostly) isn't serious enough to stop the afflicted individual from reproducing. Thus, it has been perpetuated throughout time. Even if the condition eventually incapacitates the person, often by that time the children have been born, and human altruism takes over: other members of family or society take care of them. Pure, unadulterated evolutionism without altruism would surely have eliminated these genotypes by now. Then again, altruism is a product of natural selection also.

Thread

How depressed are YOU? spike4848 1/14/02
...
Re: Not sure what to do next ..... » IsoM spike4848 1/15/02
Re: How depressed are YOU? » ST spike4848 1/15/02
Thanks for topic Spike! Mags 1/15/02
How does this happen? It sneaks up! cmcdougall 1/15/02
Re: How does this happen? It sneaks up! Denise528 1/15/02
Re: augmentation..... » spike4848 IsoM 1/15/02
Re: Family History of Depression » cmcdougall IsoM 1/15/02
Re: How depressed are YOU? » ST bob 1/15/02
Re: Family History of Depression » IsoM bob 1/15/02
Re: Family History of Depression » bob spike4848 1/15/02
Re: Thanks for topic Spike! » Mags spike4848 1/15/02
Re: augmentation..... » IsoM spike4848 1/15/02
Re: Genetics of Depression » bob IsoM 1/15/02
Re: Augmentation.and Persistance » spike4848 IsoM 1/15/02
augmentation persistence fuji 1/15/02
Re: augmentation persistence » fuji sid 1/15/02
Re: augmentation persistence » sid fuji 1/15/02
Re: How does this happen? It sneaks up! » cmcdougall nightlight 1/15/02
For Spike Mr. Scott 1/15/02
Re: Thanks for topic Spike! » spike4848 bob 1/16/02
Re: Genetics of Depression » IsoM bob 1/16/02
Re: Causes of Depression » bob IsoM 1/16/02
Re: How depressed are YOU? ST 1/16/02
Re: How depressed are YOU? ST 1/16/02
Re: augmentation persistence » fuji sid 1/16/02
...
You sound like me!!! » BarbaraCat bob 1/17/02

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