Prerna is a general science student and yesterday, she gave a speech at college. She failed. She thinks she isn’t confident enough to talk; she’s an introvert and isn’t intelligent enough to handle such conditions.
That’s because she doesn’t have such genes! She thinks.
DNA is our life’s blueprint and a user manual, having all the necessary instructions and information for life. Meaning, it controls and provides better development, survival and reproductive abilities.
And that’s exactly what we want! Primarily.
Not only the biological activities and cellular mechanisms, but also your eye, hair and skin color, your height, and your health, are controlled by DNA. So, it is believed that DNA controls everything.
But that’s pseudoscience. There are certain traits our DNA can’t control and never will.
Key Topics:
8 Things Your Genes Can’t Control (And Never Will)
Your personality:
Your personality is an independent trait. Your life experiences craft it, not your genes. In the case of Prerna, she fails every time; that’s what will make her personality confident in the future— life experiences!
Your genes can’t control whether you will be an introvert, extrovert, confident or just dumb! These personality traits are heavily shaped by your life experiences and grooming. There are no such genes that determine your personality.
Your intelligence:
Intelligence is partially controlled by genes and partially by the environment. It’s a polygenic trait where multiple genes shape the part of the brain, neurons and brain network.
However, education, nutrition, parenting and society have a significant impact on how one’s intelligence is shaped.
In this case, genes are manufacturers of our brain, but our life experiences, and our environment (again!) will decide our intelligence. Meaning, no DNA test can give a full IQ score.
Your lifespan:
This point is a bit controversial, but often is ‘psuedoscienced!’
Allow me to clarify it.
Genetics has a significant role in longevity. For instance, the length of telomeres, disease-related genes or mutations determine longevity. However, the major factors that control our lifespan are life choices, environment and random events.
You’re having amazing genetics, but what if you met with a car accident? (random event)
You have healthy genes, but what if you are a chain smoker? (life choices)
You’re having very good telomeres, but what if you are living in a polluted and depressing environment? (environment)
I guess you got my point!
Genetics could control longevity, but not our lifespan.
Your life choices:
Your life choices are shaped by how you react or make decisions. For instance, your genes can’t determine if you become a doctor, actor, artist or athlete. That’s entirely on you— your life choices!
If you choose to work hard, study well, and train yourself, you can become one of either. Your choices, interests, habits, and upbringing, shaped by education, hard work, culture and opportunities, decide who you become.
In this case, not your genes!
Your beliefs and morals:
Honesty, kindness, spirituality and political ideology can be learned and inherited by the family, and not by genes. Your genes can’t determine how honest or kind you will be or which party you will support.
Your income and success:
Everyone wants to become successful and earn millions! There are no such genes or genetic properties that help you to achieve either.
But the funny thing is, certain coaches are claiming they can rewrite your DNA, blend it or reprogram it for success and high income.
Don’t get trapped in such nonsense! DNA can be reprogrammed, but that’s a different science. Your education, willingness, determination, hard work and dedication decide your success and how much you will earn.
Don’t get trapped in the “success gene.”
Your habits and routine:
Habits and routines can only be built by dedication, focus and discipline. Now! Pseudo-scientists will shout, “Research suggests that genes control our sleep cycle and pattern….etc.”
Absolutely…. Correct!
Our genes determine our sleep cycle and pattern, and how fast we metabolize caffeine, but not when we have to sleep or consume caffeine or alcohol. That’s on you.
You can only shape your habits and routine through practice and discipline, that’s it!
Your identity:
Don’t you think we have control over who we become, what language we speak, and what festivals we celebrate? Meaning, which culture or personal identity do we have? That’s entirely dependent on you, your upbringing and your family history.
Your DNA or genes don’t have any substantial role here.
- Newsletter 02: 8 Things Your DNA Can’t Control (And Never Will)
- Newsletter 01: What happens to our DNA if a Nuke is dropped?
Wrapping up:
Don’t blame your DNA or genes for your introverted personality, thin identity, bad habits, dishonesty, bad decisions and unsuccessful life. That’s you and only you, responsible for all these.
And guess what, you can revert them all!
Our complete ‘genome’ book has 3.2 billion letters, we know them as DNA. Each meaningful sentence is a gene. If genes shape life, we give it meaning.
Meaning… by our personality, intelligence, cultural values, life choices, morals and beliefs, aren’t controlled by genes. So, yes, DNA is a blueprint of life, but not necessarily for all traits.
