Main description:

Advances in genetic research have captured the attention of the media and the public through reports about genetically caused diseases and behaviours. However, all too often the coverage of scientists' innovations has implied that genetic factors alone are responsible for effects ranging from personality and sexual preferences to morbid obesity and intellectual disabilities. Challenging Genetic Determinism argues that hypotheses cannot be based solely on genetic factors but must take into account the context in which these factors occur. Reviewing a century of developments in understanding the interplay of genes and environments, contributors demonstrate the importance of considering contextual influences as well as genetic factors and provide a comprehensive method for understanding recent research findings. The compelling new findings presented by various contributors highlight how personality traits, complex diseases and behaviours, and social and ethical issue, are all related to the interaction of genes and the environment.