Most cultural contexts are nearly identical. Caplan has cited research showing international adoption can result in increasing IQ by SD w no fade-out. Heritability (h²) is a population statistic, not a fixed property of a trait or gene: h² = Genetic variance / (Genetic variance Environmental variance) • In culturally homogeneous societies or subgroups (shared norms, education, values, practices, nutrition, information access), environmental variance is reduced. Culture acts as a “phenotypic homogenizer,” compressing differences in experiences and opportunities. This leaves a larger share of remaining phenotypic differences explained by genetic differences—increasing measured heritability. • In culturally heterogeneous settings (diverse norms, unequal access to resources/education, varied practices), environmental variance is higher. This can mask or dilute genetic effects, lowering heritability estimates for the same trait, even if underlying genetics are identical. Examples relevant to IQ/cognition: • Standardized schooling or widespread literacy practices homogenize relevant inputs (e.g., exposure to reading, abstract reasoning). Heritability of literacy or IQ often rises with age or in more uniform educational systems (e.g., jumps in Scandinavia post-kindergarten as formal academics standardize). • High-SES or developed-country environments often show higher IQ heritability (~0.6–0.8) than low-SES or more variable ones (Scarr-Rowe effect in some samples), partly because affluence/culture reduces extreme deprivation variance. • Cultural innovations (e.g., diffusion of books, screens, or diets) can rapidly alter heritability by masking/unmasking genetic potentials. Tight, low-clustering cultures (high homogeneity) tend toward higher heritability for culturally transmissible traits; clustered/diverse ones show lower. Gene-Culture Coevolution and Interactions Culture and genes interact dynamically (dual inheritance theory): • Culture shapes the environment against which genes are expressed (e.g., dairying cultures selected for lactase persistence genes). • Homogeneous cultures can amplify genetic signals for traits like intelligence by standardizing “defaults” (your father’s explanations or competitive reading/chess might thrive more uniformly in such settings). • Heterogeneous cultures increase gene-environment interactions and correlations (rGE), making outcomes more variable and heritability appear lower. • Over time, cultural evolution changes heritability: rapid innovation fast diffusion can cause transient shifts; homogeneity generally boosts it for many behavioral traits. This aligns with the LessWrong article’s caveats on heritability: stats describe population variance under current conditions, not absolute genetic determinism or malleability in individuals. High heritability in homogeneous modern societies (e.g., for IQ) often reflects successful cultural/environmental equalization rather than “mostly genes, little environment.” Caveats and Implications • Not deterministic: Individual genetic inheritance remains fixed at conception. Heritability doesn’t predict personal outcomes or preclude interventions (as in your experiences). • Measurement issues: Most studies are WEIRD-biased (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic), limiting generalizability. Cultural clustering (e.g., by class/region) creates within-society variation. • For education: In homogeneous settings, genetic differences may stand out more, but targeted practices (explanations, competition) can still shift means or expand possibilities via active rGE and practice. In short, while genes are transmitted independently of culture, the apparent influence of genetic inheritance on trait variation (heritability) rises with cultural homogeneity because it minimizes environmental “noise.” This framework reconciles nature-nurture debates and highlights why context matters for interpreting studies.

Bacteria–phage coevolution drives variation in bacterial wilt disease incidence via resistance–virulence trade-offs dlvr.it/TT16Tf #MicroSky

Variations in allele frequency between populations governs more than just skin colour. Why? Cognitive and psychological traits are heritable and were highly selected for via gene-culture coevolution. Don't be a science denier / coward, Matt.

My framework: meme–gene coevolution, cognitive niche construction, FEP, and the predictive nature of music perception: expectation, error, surprisal. Musical patterns not as passive objects, but as replicators that recruit bodies, habits, tools, institutions, and platforms.

the start of the coevolution loop will be like the first angel attack sooner is better

1 term: gene-gene coevolution. The baby was his mother's son. Take from that what you will.

Phage/bacterial coevolution! :D

Ñ sou determinista biológico, uso a dual inheritance theory (DIT) e a gene-culture coevolution (GCC), o comportamento, pensamento e identidade é determinado p/fatores genéticos, biológicos e ambientais, verticalmente (geneticamente/biologicamente) e horizontalmente (epigenética).