Genetics vs Environment

Commenters debate the roles of genetic heritability versus environmental factors in determining human traits like intelligence or IQ, often citing studies on heritability, twin/adoption research, and criticizing omissions of genetic components in articles.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Science
4,278
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#249
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
13
2008
50
2009
81
2010
88
2011
86
2012
80
2013
135
2014
117
2015
227
2016
217
2017
286
2018
438
2019
405
2020
225
2021
396
2022
345
2023
350
2024
344
2025
382
2026
13

Keywords

IQ pubmed.ncbi IMO spectrumnews.org GREML WGS FWIW substack.com virginia.edu NOT genetic genetics environmental gene traits component studies genes factors differences

Sample Comments

jjtheblunt • Mar 23, 2022 • View on HN

how do they know it's genetic and not environmental?

SamReidHughes • Jun 7, 2018 • View on HN

Actually it's more genetic than the environment.

golemotron • Apr 28, 2015 • View on HN

Why doesn't the article mention genetics as a possible factor?

b_e_n_t_o_n • Nov 10, 2025 • View on HN

Definitely a genetic component as well!

There are genetic factors!

pgt • Jan 25, 2022 • View on HN

There’s a genetic component - don’t remember which gene, but only some are subject to its effects.

Simon_says • Jul 16, 2017 • View on HN

That doesn't account for the genetic component.

toasterlovin • Feb 23, 2018 • View on HN

FWIW, your observation is not controlling for the contribution of genetics.

doliveira • Jun 14, 2022 • View on HN

There's a reason why they're not just saying "it's genetics"...

tptacek • May 11, 2023 • View on HN

Heritability does not mean "genetically determined".