'Hey Bill Nye, Are We More a Product of Our Genes, or of Our Lifestyle?' | Big Think

Hey Bill Nye, Are We More a Product of Our Genes, or of Our Lifestyle?'

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TRANSCRIPT:

[cnote]

"The short answer to this question is that about 60 to 80 percent of the difference in height between individuals is determined by genetic factors, whereas 20 to 40 percent can be attributed to environmental effects, mainly nutrition." (Google search "is height determined by genes or environment")

[ERMediaOfficial]

The real question would be: Are we humans supposed to be this tall and malnutrition just stops us from being tall OR are we humans just growing randomly, depending on the nutritional value and if so, how come there are short people in well fed countries? So the answer, clearly, must be that it's genetic how tall you can become but it is nutrition that determines if you actually become that tall. And that right there is the answer that should have been given.

[OmniphonProductions]

I started off confident in the, "Genes, " answer, and I was about to go off about how Lamark's idea of "inheritance of acquired traits" was disproved over 150 years ago. Then I remembered that DNA simply builds our bodies out of what is available, so it stands to reason that better nutrition simply helps the DNA build a better body. Thus, a expectant mother with good nutrition gives her offspring a head start, particularly if one considers the availability of calcium for building stronger (and potentially longer) bones. Ooh, good stuff! This one made me think and then rethink. Then you pointed out the obvious; in an environment where nutrition is scarce, small bodies are favored because they use fewer resources, and when food is abundant, there's more allowance (and potential) for size variance. Nice!

[J-Tone]

need more of these. like i get so excited hearing bill nye speak about something. WE. JUST. NEED. MORE. PLEASE!

Bill Nye the Science Guy - Because your breakfast is important.

[tfk]

I love how it's an asian kid asking this. Cuz as an Asian, I know this is the kind of argument we get into with our mom's constantly.

[itecnus]

Taking a nap in the afternoon helps :D

[civilsavant]

Coolest suit and tie ever!
Oh and uh tall and genes and breakfast. Great. I agree.

[MrNeocortex]

Everyone eats breakfast. The first time you eat after waking up, regardless of how long it is, you have 'broken your fast'. That's why it's called 'break fast'. Fasting is abstaining from food for a period of time. You do that for the longest amount of time whilst you sleep.

[peentgamer]

Height specifically is affected not only by genes but nutrition too, and not just YOUR nutrition, your fathers and fore-fathers. It affects you and your offspring for generations, this is why you're seeing typically shorter communities regain their standardish 6" heights back as their diets improve and become more varied, this has a lot to do with agriculture and mass farming of grain. The more you know I guess...

[laurenkil]

It's funny people are always asking Bill about biology and the nature of human life but he's actually a mechanical engineer. I mean I'm sure he knows a lot about a lot of things, but it just kind of cracks me up!

[LCTesla]

ok, so it's both... but is nutrition just part of the causal chain that determines natural selection, or is it actually relevant to a person's individual growth, i.e. more/better nutrition in childhood -> taller in adulthood?

[lukusmalaney]

This explains the short stature of Oompa Loompas. thanks Bill

[timwu]

So breakfast is the key to a successful life, very helpful.

[Snafuey]

I don't eat breakfast and I conceder myself to be mildly successful. LoL

[RadyoMusic]

What's breakfast have to do with anything? I'd appreciate if someone explained thank you 😊

[FPOAK]

If the evolutionary response to geographically distinct selection pressures caused differences in traits like height among populations, isn't it possible that there may be differences in cognitive/personality traits as well? I don't understand how evolution would somehow stop right at the neck and leave everyone's brains _exactly the same_.

[Mikem]

How do you send questions to Bill Nye?

[Shitpost_MaGee]

"ALL OF OUR ANCESTORS ARE FROM AFRICA" - BILL NYE

[jethepimp]

There is a 6 in. (15.24 cm) difference between me and my taller older brother. When I was growing up money was tight and I was not able to eat as much.