In your seventh grade North Carolina science class, you learn all about amazing chromosomes, genes, DNA and cells and what they have to do with your inherited characteristics.

As you explored personality traits in Missions 1 and 2, did you wonder, "Was I born with this outrageous personality or did I learn from others to behave this way?" Maybe so...maybe not... This is a very old argument that dates back to 13th century France. Some scientists think that people are born with their personalities and other scientists believe that we behave in certain ways because we are taught to behave in those ways. If you really study science this year, you will see that scientists are learning a lot about the human genome and that both sides of this debate could be partly right. Well, the debate continues and scientists still fight over how much of "us" is shaped by genes and how much is shaped by our environment (family members, friends, schools).

Consider the two different views of these guys. Do you agree with one or the other or both? Click their heads to find out.

Staging the (Not So) Genteel Genetics Debate
Dig deeper into information about your "famous person" to see what you can learn about his or her parents or family. Save your notes in the same word processing file used for the previous mission.

Think about and discuss the following questions:

1. How many personality characteristics does my famous person share with his or her family?
2. Did my "famous person" make the same career choices as his or her parents?
3. Did/does my "famous person" have similar unusual traits or behavioral habits as someone in his or her family? (nervous habits, nail biting, eye twitching, alcoholism, ...)

After class discussion, decide which side you would like to take --
nature (our behavior is predetermined by our genes)
OR
nurture (our behavior is determined by our environment and life experiences)?

Create an argument for your side by:

• stating a firm judgment.
• justifying the judgment with logical, relevant reasons, clear examples, and supporting details.
• creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
  (NC Standard Course of Study, Grade 7, ELA, Goal 3)

If you think the twin story is amazing, use www.ncwiseowl.org to check out the unbelievable, but TRUE, facts about:

• Cloning (human or animal)
• Genetically Engineered Food (splicing food genes, world hunger, technology)
• Advances in Molecular Biology, (genetic research)
• Studies of Identical Twins (Center for Twin and Adoption Research)

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