- Co-authors
- Cristina E. Salvador
Shinobu Kitayama
⚛ Graduand
This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Culture and the Dance of Genes: A Bidirectional Journey. Discuss.
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Culture and the Dance of Genes: A Bidirectional Journey
- Thread starter Shinobu Kitayama
- Start date
This is a fascinating article. While the method has been criticised in the open-peer review, it is a curious finding that should be part of a wider debate.
Heather Stein
⚛ Esquire
It reminded me of a recent PBS Eons episode about the archaeological evidence for the world's oldest beverages in which the discussion of our unusual ability to digest milk through adulthood came up.
Shinobu Kitayama
⚛ Graduand
Here is my response to the peer review by Dr. Ismail:
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review of the atomic version of our Annual Review of Psychology article. You are absolutely right that the atomic format led to a lack of depth and focus, particularly regarding the methods and detailed background on foundational concepts like gene-culture co-evolution and theories in cultural psychology, including cultural patterns of independence and interdependence.
I would like to reiterate a central idea that we aim to convey in our exploration of the gene-culture link: while genes do not determine culture, certain genes (such as DRD4) may modulate cultural learning. The brain volume data from Yu et al.—as highlighted in your review—provides initial evidence that specific alleles of DRD4 might influence how cultural backgrounds shape brain structures, supporting cultural adaptation. This thesis reflects our attempt to address an "outstanding question" in the field: understanding genetic influences on culture without succumbing to genetic determinism. I hope you find this idea compelling, novel, and worthy of further exploration.
We also share common ground in valuing multidisciplinary perspectives and recognizing within-culture variations. In fact, our work suggests that some of these variations may be attributable to gene-culture interactions. We believe that integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and genetics allows for a more nuanced view of cultural adaptation.
Finally, I am pleased that this atomic version serves to disseminate our full review to a broader audience—and that it enabled us to connect with you! For readers interested in more comprehensive details, we recommend consulting the original studies cited in the full review.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review of the atomic version of our Annual Review of Psychology article. You are absolutely right that the atomic format led to a lack of depth and focus, particularly regarding the methods and detailed background on foundational concepts like gene-culture co-evolution and theories in cultural psychology, including cultural patterns of independence and interdependence.
I would like to reiterate a central idea that we aim to convey in our exploration of the gene-culture link: while genes do not determine culture, certain genes (such as DRD4) may modulate cultural learning. The brain volume data from Yu et al.—as highlighted in your review—provides initial evidence that specific alleles of DRD4 might influence how cultural backgrounds shape brain structures, supporting cultural adaptation. This thesis reflects our attempt to address an "outstanding question" in the field: understanding genetic influences on culture without succumbing to genetic determinism. I hope you find this idea compelling, novel, and worthy of further exploration.
We also share common ground in valuing multidisciplinary perspectives and recognizing within-culture variations. In fact, our work suggests that some of these variations may be attributable to gene-culture interactions. We believe that integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and genetics allows for a more nuanced view of cultural adaptation.
Finally, I am pleased that this atomic version serves to disseminate our full review to a broader audience—and that it enabled us to connect with you! For readers interested in more comprehensive details, we recommend consulting the original studies cited in the full review.