What’s in your DNA? #26

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted March 2, 2008 in In Your DNA

Dovegreyreader, a fellow member of The Sunday Salon, writes of the Jane Austen fan club:

I can’t really comment on the entire Austen oeuvre because, no, I still haven’t read them all. It is a bit like pulling teeth to sit me down with one and get me to the other end, I think I lack the right gene, the sense and sensibility chromosome.

Regarding the Gianfranco Ferre Fall/Winter 2008/2009 women’s collection:

Color is inscribed in the genetic code of the dress. That’s why it must be able to express solidity and severity. Or, on the contrary, energy and enchantment…

Wise Elephant interviewed Tim Steele, COO of DCM:

WE: Is ambition acquired or inherent?

TS: I’ve had this conversation a number of times with successful people (and who coincidentally have usually been parents) - discussing whether or not we believed we could instill things like ambition in our children. I’ve never reached a solid conclusion.

From my perspective, I certainly had great role models - parents who believed and communicated that there was nothing one person couldn’t do (and do well) if they worked hard enough. So, did I “acquire” it from their example or did I “inherit” it in my DNA? Not sure.

Whether it’s nature or nurture, I believe it can be helped along or squelched by role models - whether or not their influence was intentional on their part. A careless word to a child who is role playing about being “silly” might be harmful to that child’s creativity. On the other hand, a manager who supports a person during failure might encourage beneficial risk taking that’s helpful to ambition.

Photo credit: Wellcome Images under Creative Commons

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