Mindcog

18. Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are | Robert Plomin (PT1)

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Episode notes

Today I'm honoured to be speaking with Robert Plomin - Professor of Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King's College London. Robert has previously held positions at the University of Colorado Boulder, and at Pennsylvania State University. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and of the British Academy for his twin studies and his ground-breaking work in behavioural genetics. He is the author or co-author of many books, including G is for Genes: The Impact of Genetics on Education and Achievement (with Kathryn Asbury), and most recently, Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are. I've spent the past three weeks wrapping my head around Blueprint, and I must admit, I've become a little obsessed. So much has changed since I last read up on behavioural genetics. The DNA revolution is now upon us, and if you thought the technological revolution shook up the world, you ain't seen nothing yet! Today, Robert and I discuss the following: · How Robert came to study behavioural genetics · The history of behavioural genetics · Why Robert waited 30 years to write Blueprint · The concept of heritability - a mysterious 6-syllable word that is perhaps the most confused word in psychology · The mind-bending finding that heritability actually increases with age - in spite of our best efforts - we're become more and more like our parents with each passing day.