Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!nadel
From: nadel@aerospace.aero.org (Miriam H. Nadel)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: sex/gender
Message-ID: <18921@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu>
Date: 29 Jul 89 17:58:28 GMT
References: <8907071844.AA10158@cattell.psych.upenn.edu> <10546@polya.Stanford.EDU> <12869@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <10781@polya.Stanford.EDU> <18834@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu> <3145@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU>
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Comp & Info Services
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Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Status: R


In article <3145@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU> elroy!ames!cadre.dsl.pitt.edu!geb (Gordon E. Banks) writes:
>>
>But weren't the voles two different species of voles, not just two
>different populations of voles?  The idea being that the differences
>are hereditary not environmental.  Now why the differences evolved, is
>another question entirely.  Obviously, the environment is the
>base cause of that.

Even if the vole populations were different genetically, one cannot assume 
that all differences between them were due to genetic etiologies.   There 
were two differences between these vole populations that the authors pointed
out:  1) males ranged further than females in one population while neither 
ranged far in the second population 2) males had more spatial ability than 
females in the first population and the spatial abililities were equal in the 
second.  The authors theorized that increased spatial ability led to increased
ranging but there was no evidence that this was a more likely proposition than
the theory that increased ranging led to increased spatial ability.  One of 
these differences is probably genetic but this study does not prove which 
one.

>Yes, all inborn neurologic "abilities" must be exercised in order to
>develop.  If you patch a kitten's eyes from birth to several months,
>it will be functionally blind (please kids, don't try this at home).
>If you don't teach a child to speak until it is 3 or 4, it will
>never learn to use language properly.
>You are right that it is difficult to show (in humans) what part
>is due to nature and what part to nurture.  What is certain is that
>there are sex differences.  Perhaps with the radical changes in
>freedom of women we will soon find out.

Okay, suppose  males and females are born with an equal amount of spatial
ability.   For whatever reason (genetic, cultural, environmental), males
exercise their abilities more.  Therefore, males have increased spatial
ability.  Now is this difference nature or nurture?  Think about it!

Judy
Geneticist extraordinaire
M.D. graduation in 9 months, 23 days!