Episode 5 - Nature, Nurture, and Twin Studies

06/15/21 • 70 min

In this episode, we explore the nature versus nurture debate with the help of behavioural genetics. In human development, what matters more - the environment or our genome? Join us for a deep dive into the fascinating research of twins and adoption. From the uncanny similarities of twins reared apart to the effects of different parenting strategies, we untangle what the research says about our genes and environment... and what it doesn't.
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Episode 4 – Who We Are & How We Got Here

In this episode, we discuss David Reich's book, Who We Are & How We Got Here. Starting with an overview of DNA sequencing technology and how it helps paint a picture of our past, we review what we know about ancient humans: Where did we evolve, and how did we spread around the globe? We discuss early modern humans' interactions with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. Then, with a focus on Europe and India, we discuss how modern human populations ended up where they are today and what that tells us about the meaning of 'race' and differences among human populations.
Buy David Reich's book on Amazon.
If you have feedback on how we can make the show better, please reach out to us. Our email address is [email protected].

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Episode 6 – The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind

Why are some people liberal and others conservative? What makes us land on the political positions that we hold?
In this episode, we discuss The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind by Jason Weeden and Robert Kurzban, who are trying to get to the root of these questions. We present the arguments laid out by Kurzban and Weeden in the context of the abortion debate. We also debate its ramifications for political discourse in general.
You can get the book on Amazon.