Breeding Bigger and Better

I was reading a short article about how athletes are getting taller and heavier. One of the suggestions given for this is because athletes usually end up marrying other athletes. This got me thinking, since people usually marry those who have similar interests, individuals who have specialized skills, such as athleticism and art, will ultimately breed improved athletes or artists.

This all got me thinking about the flip side of things. What about criminals? Many criminals seek out other criminals - it makes sense. So what happens when they procreate? Do they make better criminals? As I have written in previous posts, criminals have a gene that makes them apt to be deviant. Therefore, my assumption is that the offsprings of criminals wouldn’t actually be better criminals but just a higher chance of them engaging in deviant behavior.

Of course, when we discuss athletes becoming bigger and better, it’s a physical component related to genes rather than just behavior. The perception may be that criminals also get bigger and better but it may be that environment makes them that way. Environmental influences from parents may make better athletes but they must also have the physical capacity to achieve.

Let’s talk about it - what do you think?

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32912172@N00/3357985005/)

August 17th, 2009 by Marcelina Hardy | Posted in Genetics and Society | (0)