[extropy-chat] Copycat Copycat

[Samantha Atkins]

On Dec 22, 2004, at 9:56 PM, Brett Paatsch wrote:

> Spike
>> If we had had him cloned, surely the genetically identical
>> offspring would not take up these evidently starvation-induced 
>> endearing behaviors.
>
> Surely not, I agree. His experiences shaped his neural net in
> conjunction with his genes. Both genes and experience matter
> and there is an interplay between them.
>
> He isn't him, you aren't you, and I aren't I on the basis of genes 
> alone any more than a recipe produces the same cake at varying
> temperatures of oven.

Dunno.  Some of the separated at birth identical twin literature 
suggests that genetics have more impact on subsequent choices and 
behavior than the above would suggest.

- samantha